NCJ Number
58368
Journal
COSMOPOLITAN Volume: 180 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: 238,240,241
Date Published
1976
Length
3 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH OVER A MILLION WOMEN ARE BEATEN IN THE U.S. EVERY YEAR BY THEIR SPOUSES OR BOYFRIENDS, THE CRIME GOES LARGELY UNREPORTED. THIS ARTICLE OUTLINES THE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BATTERED WIVES SYNDROME.
Abstract
POLICE RECORDS SHOW THAT OVER ONE-FOURTH OF ALL MURDERS AND A FAR LARGER PERCENTAGE OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS OCCUR BETWEEN SPOUSES. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO ACCURATE WAY TO ASSESS THE NUMBER OF CRIMES THAT GO UNREPORTED. IN SOME INSTANCES, VICTIMS ARE TOO FRIGHTENED OR TOO ASHAMED TO REVEAL THEIR PRIVATE AGONY, WHILE IN OTHERS PHYSICAL ABUSE HAS SIMPLY BECOME A WAY OF CONJUGAL LIFE. IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WOMEN ARE ALMOST ALWAYS THE LOSERS. WIFE BEATERS AS A GROUP SEEM TO BE HOUNDED BY FEELINGS OF INSECURITY THAT ARE FINALLY EXPRESSED AS RAGE. MANY VIOLENT HUSBANDS AND LOVERS EXPERIENCED EITHER ABUSE OR ABANDONMENT DURING CHILDHOOD. IN ORDER TO COPE WITH RESULTING FEELINGS OF WEAKNESS AND VULNERABILITY, THEY PRETEND TO BE SUPERTOUGH AND INDEPENDENT. THEY ARE USUALLY THREATENED BY ANY SUGGESTION THAT THEIR SEXUAL POTENCY IS IN QUESTION. PARANOID SUSPICIONS OF A WIFE'S INFIDELITY ARE OFTEN PROJECTIONS OF THE MALE'S FEARS ABOUT HIS OWN SEXUAL PERFORMANCE. IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, MUCH OF THE ANGER THE WIFE BEATER FEELS FOR HIS SPOUSE IS ACTUALLY BASED ON 'LEFTOVER' RAGE FELT TOWARD THE PARENT WHO ABUSED HIM AS A CHILD. THE REASONS FOR A WOMEN TAKING THE ABUSE USUALLY ARE BASED ON THE NEED FOR EMOTIONAL SECURITY. FREQUENTLY THE MARRIAGE HAS BECOME A CRUTCH FOR THE WOMAN AND DISCARDING IT RAISES UNBEARABLE ANXIETIES. THE WOMAN ATTRACTED TO THE VIOLENT MAN USUALLY COMES FROM A BACKGROUND WHERE SHE WAS IGNORED OR NEGLECTED; SHE OFTEN GOADS HIM INTO VIOLENCE IN ORDER TO GET ATTENTION. AFTERWARDS, SHE CAN USE THE EPISODE AS EMOTIONAL RANSOM TO MAKE HIM FEEL GUILTY. IN ORDER TO BREAK THIS PATTERN OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INTERVENTION MUST COME EARLY, BEFORE THE ABUSE BECOMES A STEADY PATTERN AND BOTH PARTIES ARE ENMESHED IN A WEB OF ANGER AND GUILT. (STB)