Domestic violence remains to be a notable vice in societies. The violence involves intimate partners or even children. Domestic violence may take various forms, such as sexual abuse, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse (Smith, 2020). Various researchers have delved into the topic of domestic violence. The objectives of these researchers have been varied. Some have aimed to identify the causes of domestic violence, some the characteristics of the abusers and victims, some the correlations of substance abuse and domestic violence, while others have researched the patterns of domestic violence in societies.
Some of the notable characteristics of abusers in domestic violence incidences have been documented as verbal abuse, manipulation, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. The relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence has been highly researched. Various conflicting theories on the relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence have been advanced. Notable of these schools of thought include the argument that substance abuse is the cause of domestic violence and that the effects of substance abuse on domestic violence are indirect (Florida Institute for Child Welfare, 2016). These arguments have been countered by the biopsychosocial model, which suggests that domestic violence is attributable to a mix of factors, including biological, psychological, and social ones. Despite the various theories on the relationship between substance abuse and domestic abuse, there exists a common understanding that substance abuse plays some role in domestic violence. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the characteristics of perpetrators in domestic violence situations. The characteristics to be discussed are verbal abuse, manipulation, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. Besides, the paper will look into the roles of substance abuse in domestic violence.
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Four Characteristics of Abusers in Domestic Violence Situations
The perpetrators in domestic violence situations have been described to possess several traits such as getting easily enraged, jealous, manipulative, isolation from friends, controlling, use of threatening speeches, persistent accusations of wrongdoings to their spouses, amongst other traits. The four characteristics of domestic violence abusers that have been chosen for discussion in this paper are, namely, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and manipulation.
Manipulation is the first trait that is exhibited by abusers in domestic violence situations. According to Gosselin (2018), manipulators are the individuals who use threats and intimidation on their partners. The use of threats and intimidation makes the abusers gain a sense of personal satisfaction. Jealousy is one of the reasons that makes abusers manipulative. Gosselin states that abusers tend to dictate the victim’s schedule, finances, dressing, or behavior.
Verbal abuse is the second trait that is displayed by abusers in domestic violence incidences. Domestic violence abusers get easily enraged over simple matters. They express their anger through verbal abuse, which may take forms such as yelling, shouting, name-calling, or stating some degrading statements about the partner (Smith, 2020). Nonverbal abuse may also be expressed through facial expressions such as glaring. The aim of the verbal and non-verbal abuse is usually to cause feelings of worthlessness in partners. Verbal abuse leads to mental and emotional stress on the victims. Victims may also get anxious or depressed. An example of verbal abuse would include an enraged wife shouting to the husband that he is a useless father to their children.
Physical abuse is the third notable trait in abusers in domestic violence scenarios. Physical abuse involves engaging in acts that cause physical pain to the victims. Such acts include kicking, punching, slapping, or the use of weapons or items such as knives, machetes, whips, etc. Gosselin (2018) states that physical abuse may also involve acts such as the denial of essential medication or medical treatment and coerced use of drugs or alcohol to the victim. An example of physical abuse would involve a husband slapping the wife during an argument on marital affairs.
Sexual abuse is the fourth characteristic that may be exhibited by perpetrators of domestic violence. Sexual abuse in domestic violence may take forms such as groping, coerced sexual acts, and marital rape (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 2018; Rehab Center, 2019b). Male or female partners may be the perpetrators of sexual abuse. A scenario where a husband forces the wife to have sex is an example of sexual abuse.
Four Roles of Substance Abuse and its Effect on Domestic Violence
Substance abuse plays various roles in relation to domestic violence. The roles of substance abuse and its effects on domestic violence are well elaborated when discussed in the context of particular drugs. This paper discusses the role of substance abuse and its effect on domestic abuse in relation to four drugs, namely cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and opioids.
The first role of substance abuse and its effect on domestic violence involves cocaine and domestic violence. Cocaine is described as a psychomotor stimulant that leads to psychotic symptoms and irritability in heavy usage (Rehab Center, 2019b). Intimate partners who use cocaine may form the judgment that their spouses are opposed to them. Consequently, it is not surprising to find that cocaine users might engage in sexual violence (Rehab Center, 2019b). Research has also shown that individuals who are withdrawing from cocaine use may experience withdrawal effects such as agitation and aggression. Thus, cocaine use may precipitate verbal or physical abuse amongst partners.
The second role of substance abuse revolves around alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Alcohol’s role in domestic violence has been described as that of worsening situations, especially where there are pre-existent marital conflicts (Rehab Center, 2019a). Alcohol impairs judgment and interferes with functioning, such as social information processing. As such, alcohol use worsens domestic violence since partners are likely to be more aggressive in their responses to each other. Individuals who typically have anger issues and aggressive behavior are more likely to have these traits more pronounced when they are under the influence of alcohol. A recent study revealed that men suffering from alcohol issues were six times more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence than their non-drinking counterparts (Shaw, 2019). In domestic violence situations such cases may cause psychological stress. Domestic violence perpetrators who partake in alcohol may also become violent and engage their partners in physical abuse.
The third role of substance abuse in relation to domestic violence relates to opioid use. Opioid abuse has been on the rise, especially in the United States (Hussain, 2017). Stone and Rothman (2019) conducted a review study that revealed that 15% of male opioid users had perpetrated extreme intimate partner violence (IPV) while 58% had engaged in some form of IPV. In the domestic violence context, the abusers of opioids get involved in actions that threaten their partner’s sobriety and sanity (Hussain, 2017). Violent partners may force their partners to use opioids and, upon getting hooked, utilize the opportunity to exert further control on their partners by ensuring that they do not receive treatment. Opioids are highly addictive, and abusers may go to any length to get high. Thus, they may lead to increased conflicts among partners, e.g., due to misappropriation of finances. Sexual, financial, and physical abuses are likely to occur among partners where one of the partners abuses opioids.
The fourth role of substance abuse in domestic violence involves marijuana. Some researchers have identified that marijuana use is one of the risk factors for domestic violence. Shorey et al. (2018) conducted a study involving male participants who had been apprehended for domestic violence. The study revealed that marijuana use had a positive correlation with the perpetration of various forms of intimate partner violence such as sexual, physical, and physiological abuse. Marijuana use has been documented to cause some detrimental effects such as irritability, paranoia, psychosis, and anxiety in some individuals and hence the positive association with domestic violence (Muller et al., 2020; Shorey et al., 2018). Robert Dear, who shot dead three people and injured nine more in Colorado, was described as a heavy marijuana user who exhibited anger and was involved in domestic violence with his ex-wives (Miller et al., 2020). Marijuana use exacerbates domestic violence incidents.
Summarily, several characteristics are displayed by domestic violence perpetrators. This paper has addressed some of these factors, including verbal abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, and sexual abuse. Domestic violence may be perpetrated by either the male or female partners. Although researchers disagree on whether substance abuse has direct or indirect causation on domestic violence, there exists a common understanding that substance abuse plays some role in domestic violence. This research paper has delved into some of the roles of substance abuse in the domestic abuse context by analyzing four drugs, namely cocaine, alcohol, opioids, and marijuana. The analysis of the roles of these drugs reveals that their use makes domestic violence to be aggravated. Partners become more likely to cause various forms of domestic violence, such as sexual, physical, psychological, and financial. The solution to domestic violence and substance use problem requires that both the perpetrators and victims should receive appropriate care.
References
Florida Institute for Child Welfare. (2016). The Intersection of Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence within Families Involved in the Child Welfare System [Ebook]. Retrieved 8 September 2020, from https://ficw.fsu.edu/content/download/333635/2221570/Intersection%20of%20Substance%20Abuse%20and%20Domestic%20Violence.pdf.
Gosselin, D. (2018). Family and intimate partner violence (6th ed.). Pearson.
Hussain, N. (2017). Opioids, Domestic Violence, and Mental Health . Amchp.org. Retrieved 8 September 2020, from http://www.amchp.org/AboutAMCHP/Newsletters/Pulse/MayJune2017/Pages/Opioids,-Domestic-Violence-and-Mental-Health.aspx .
Miller, N., Ipeku, R., & Oberbarnscheidt, T. (2020). A Review of Cases of Marijuana and Violence. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health , 17 (5), 1578. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051578
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). (2018). NCADV | National Coalition Against Domestic Violence . Ncadv.org. Retrieved 8 September 2020, from https://ncadv.org/blog/posts/quick-guide-domestic-violence-and-sexual-abuse .
Rehab Center. (2019). Identifying a Connection Between Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence . Find Rehab Centers Based On Your Needs. Retrieved 8 September 2020, from https://www.rehabcenter.net/domestic-violence-and-substance-abuse/ .
Rehab Center. (2019). The Relationship Between Cocaine Use And Violence . Find Rehab Centers Based On Your Needs. Retrieved 8 September 2020, from https://www.rehabcenter.net/cocaine/violence/ .
Shaw, D. (2019). Men with alcohol problems’ more likely to abuse’ . BBC News. Retrieved 8 September 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50887893 .
Shorey, R., Haynes, E., Brem, M., Florimbio, A., Grigorian, H., & Stuart, G. (2018). Marijuana use is associated with intimate partner violence perpetration among men arrested for domestic violence. Translational Issues In Psychological Science , 4 (1), 108-118. https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000140
Smith, C. (2020). Alcoholism and Domestic Abuse: Finding Help - Alcohol Rehab Guide . Alcohol Rehab Guide. Retrieved 8 September 2020, from https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/alcohol/crimes/domestic-abuse/#:~:text=Alcohol%20and%20Domestic%20Abuse%20Statistics,more%20likely%20to%20abuse%20alcohol
Stone, R., & Rothman, E. (2019). Opioid Use and Intimate Partner Violence: a Systematic Review. Current Epidemiology Reports , 6 (2), 215-230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-019-00197-2
