NCJ Number
56536
Journal
PSYCHIATRIC NEWS V 13 Issue: 10 Dated: (MAY 19, 1978) Pages: 25-29,31
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
COMMENTS OF TWO PSYCHIATRISTS ARE REPORTED REGARDING THE UNDER-REPORTING AND LACK OF SOCIAL SERVICE RESPONSE TO WIFE BATTERING AND THE DYNAMICS OF VIOLENCE IN THE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP.
Abstract
AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEDICAL CENTER REPORTS THAT THE INCIDENCE OF SPOUSE ABUSE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE, SINCE IT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL CATEGORY ON EMERGENCY HOSPITAL ADMITTANCE FILES, POLICE REPORTS, COURT ROSTERS, AND OTHER OBVIOUS SOURCES OF INFORMATION. LEGAL EXPERTS, HOWEVER, BELIEVE THAT WIFE ABUSE IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERREPORTED CRIMES IN THE COUNTRY, EVEN MORE SO THAN RAPE. SOME INVESTIGATORS ESTIMATE THAT APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF AMERICAN WIVES ARE ABUSED. STILL, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE ORGANIZED RESPONSE BY SOCIAL SERVICES IN AN EFFORT TO DEAL WITH THIS PREVALENT AND SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS EVIDENCE POINTS TOWARD OUR SOCIETY'S ACCEPTANCE OF SPOUSE ABUSE AS A MATTER OF PRIVATE MARITAL BEHAVIOR NOT TO BE TAMPERED WITH BY PUBLIC AGENCIES. A PSYCHIATRIST SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PSYCHOANALYSIS ON THE 'PSYCHODYNAMICS OF VIOLENCE-PRONE MARRIAGES' VIEWS AGGRESSION, HOSTILITY, AND VIOLENCE WITHIN THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP AS TACTICS OR REACTIONS TO FRUSTRATIONS IN EFFORTS TO MANIPULATE OR CONTROL THE BEHAVIOR OF A SPOUSE FOR ONE'S OWN NEEDS. THIS BEHAVIOR IS THE PATTERN OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE THEMSELVES TO BE INFERIOR, INSECURE, AND POWERLESS IN A GIVE-AND-TAKE COMMUNICATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR SPOUSES. VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION HAS BECOME THEIR ACCUSTOMED MEANS OF CONTROLLING THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE WITH WHOM THEY FEEL MOST VULNERABLE. HELP FOR MARRIAGES IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES IS FREQUENTLY DIFFICULT TO GIVE BECAUSE THE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP MAY HAVE REACHED A POINT OF NEUROTIC STABILIZATION WHERE NEITHER PARTY CAN REACT TO THE OTHER APART FROM THE VIOLENT AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TO WHICH EACH HAS BECOME ACCUSTOMED. THE APPROACH THAT CAN LEAD TO CHANGE IN THE RELATIONSHIP INVOLVES THE MUTUAL DISCOVERY OF WAYS TO COMMUNICATE THAT DO NOT INVOLVE VIOLENCE OR AGGRESSION. (RCB)