NCJ Number
54648
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CIRCUMSTANCES AS FACTORS DETERMINING THE LEGITIMACY OF FORCE IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH FACTORS IN VIOLENT PERSONALITIES AND MEASURES TO LIMIT VIOLENCE.
Abstract
THIS CHAPTER SUMMARIZES THE MAIN THRUSTS OF MATERIAL PRESENTED IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK. FROM THE CHAPTERS DEALING WITH HISTORICAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND CULTURAL CONDITIONING AFFECTING VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE LEGITIMACY OF USING FORCE IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IS LARGELY SOCIALLY DETERMINED AND VARIES FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY AND PERIOD TO PERIOD. FURTHER, THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE WITHIN THE FAMILY APPARENTLY CORRELATES WITH THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. SOCIETIES WHICH VIEW WOMEN AS SUBSERVIENT TO MEN AND CHILDREN AS REQUIRED TO BE OBEDIENT TO AUTHORITY FIGURES TEND TO LEGITIMIZE THE USE OF FORCE IN CONTROLLING WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITHIN THE FAMILY. SOCIOECONOMIC INFLUENCES DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF WOMEN IN RELATION TO MEN ARE BELIEVED INFLUENTIAL IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF BATTERED WIVES TRAPPED BY ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS. FURTHER, SUCH INFLUENCES WILL TEND TO CHANGE MEN'S VIEW OF WOMEN AS BEING A FORM OF PROPERTY. WHILE CHILDREN ARE NECESSARILY DEPENDENT ON PARENTS FOR SOCIALIZATION, IT IS BELIEVED INFLUENTIAL SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS CAN TEACH METHODS OF SOCIALIZING CHILDREN THAT RULE OUT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, WHICH CAN TOO EASILY LEAD TO ABUSE. INSECURITIES AND EMOTIONAL DEPRIVATIONS ARE MENTIONED AS PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS IN THE PERSONALITY OF THE VIOLENT PERSON, STIMULATING HIM TO TRY AND FULFILL UNMET NEEDS BY CONTROLLING THE PEOPLE IN HIS WORLD THROUGH VIOLENCE. THE IMPORTANCE OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO DEALING WITH BATTERED WIVES AND ABUSED CHILDREN IS EMPHASIZED, AND IT IS ADVISED THAT INTERVENTION IN FAMILIES WHERE VIOLENCE IS PRESENT REQUIRES CAREFULLY TRAINED PERSONNEL ACTING ACCORDING TO REASONABLY PRECISE AND PROVEN PROCEDURES. (RCB)