Domestic violence refers to a sequence of abusive behavior in a relationship that one partner uses to maintain or gain control over the other intimate partner. It is an issue of global concern that is not dependent on racial, cultural, or class distinction. Domestic violence impacts the economy adversely because the batterers can face law suits, while the battered develop various health problems, which affects their productivity. Therefore, the government has to combat the situation for the development of a nation. Part of the solution is the need for people to understand intimate partner relationships and the role of social-cultural factors in escalation of violence in a relationship, which can be explained through the social learning theory of aggression.
Social learning theory (SLT) explains that people learn about conformity and crime through interactions with other people who expose them to factors that favor or oppose crime. When used in the family context, the theory explains that some people model behaviors which they have been exposed to when they were growing up ( Criminal Justice , 2020). Violence could have been learned from relatives, siblings, or parents. It could have been known directly, that is through being abused, or indirectly, through witnessing the violence. Therefore, some people tend to be violent as a conflict resolution strategy or response to stress. SLP proposes that people who have grown being abused or witnessing violence are more likely to be domestically violent partners.
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Most children with post-traumatic stress disorders have been exposed to domestic violence. For instance, physical abuse makes children feel betrayed, shame, guilt which make them lose trust to people around them. (Powers et al., 2017). This makes children, especially during their teenage years, not to seek any parental advice, despite the complexities of life during adolescence. Moreover, the children find it hard to handle any form of conflict in their lives, which makes them become violent even in their intimate relationships.
Therefore, it is crucial to prevent all forms of child abuse and to exposure of children to violence because it will help in a significant reduction of intimate partner violence when one grows up. Intervening early will help in the restoration of normal developmental processes, for instance, self-control and empathy, which helps in solving conflict more amicably and not violently ( Criminal Justice , 2020). This helps in promotions of healthy relationships, which will lead to future generations being brought up in peaceful and supportive families, hence bringing an end to domestic violence issues.
The government should put in place stringent measures to combat any form of child violence, which is easier than the cost incurred in handling domestic violence issues. Markedly, Domestic violence often burdens various sectors of an economy, which affects the development of a nation because the batterers make the government spend heavily on health care, law enforcement, and lost labor. The cost is also felt to future generations, especially if children grow up seeing their parents getting abused. This has adverse effects, because the children can neither regulate their emotions nor manage misunderstandings effectively .
Therefore, authorities should come up with constructive measures to combat child abuse. The government can establish child-centered toll-free hotline phone numbers where the children can call in case of domestic violence at their homes. Markedly, most children experiencing child violence avoid calling these numbers because they are afraid of being taken to care centers far away from their parents, or getting separated from siblings. Therefore, the government should come up with strategies to stop the violence without separating the families. For instance, the abusive parent can be punished severely by the law to discourage the behavior through short imprisonment or payment of fines. This can help deter partners from getting violent. Additionally, authorities should offer free counseling to children going through violent families. The children should be assured that the counseling sessions are safe places where they can express their greatest fears, disappointments, and wishes. Moreover, the counselors should ensure that they guide the children on how to make the right choices, which are not influenced by their parent’s actions.
Moreover, there should the government sensitization to the parents on the repercussions of domestic violence to the wellbeing of the children. The sensitization can be done through advertisements on televisions, banners, and community trainings. Similarly, there should be free counseling sessions to partners having domestic violence, on how to solve their issues effectively. Also, the counselors should explain to the parents that if the partner cannot stop being violent, they have an option of leaving, for the sake of their children’s welfare. Notably, most parents in violent relationships argue that they are sticking to the relationship because of the children, which they should understand only creates more damage to the kids ( Criminal Justice , 2020). Most children hate seeing any of their parents suffer and although the feeling of separation is hurtful, it is better than growing up to handle the stress for the rest of their lives. Such sensitizations will also help the parents come up with concrete decisions on why it is okay to leave abusive relationships.
Therefore, social learning theory explains that children who grow up witnessing domestic violence, or being abused by people around them can turn out to be violent partners. Domestic violence entails any abuse, whether physical or emotional, to people in intimate relationships or marriages. The children cannot have healthy relationships, the stress they had while growing up will make them feel that all conflicts are handled through violence. Therefore, domestic violence not only affects the couple, but also future generations. Thus, the government should come up with strategies to help mitigate domestic violence, mainly through ensuring the wellbeing of the child is prioritized. That will ensure the children have healthy relationships which will help them deal with future misunderstandings in a healthy and rational manner.
References
“ Domestic Violence - Criminal Justice - IResearchNet.” Criminal Justice , 2020, criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/crime/domestic-violence/.
Powers, Ráchael A., et al. “Social Learning Theory, Gender, and Intimate Partner Violent Victimization: A Structural Equations Approach.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence , 2017, p. 088626051771048., doi:10.1177/0886260517710486.
