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Domestic violence is a global problem of enormous proportions. Both at home and overseas, recent events divert our attention to its increasing scope and severity from headline news about world famous artists and athletes, to members of our own society, two of whom recently fell afoul of this social ill too young, too soon, and too tragically for many of us to comprehend.

We recall with sadness the deaths of Rhiana Moore and Shakeya DeRosa.

Domestic violence is a complex and pervasive problem: there are few simple explanations.

However, understanding of the causes, dynamics and effects are of primary importance to those in the helping professions and to all people affected by domestic violence.

October has been designated "Domestic Violence Month' and the Women's Resource Centre will present a series of articles examining some of the current research about this disturbing and pervasive issue.

Domestic violence and women

Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviour used by one person in a relationship to maintain power and control over another. Physical battering is not the only form of abuse: psychological, emotional and sexual abuse such as insults, intimidation, threats and forced sex are also part of an abusive relationship.

Although males and females may be victims, the majority are women and children. In the U.S., 95 per cent of all victims of domestic violence are women; 50 per cent of all murdered women are killed by a spouse or an acquaintance; 30 per cent of all physical disabilities in women are caused by domestic violence and every nine seconds, a woman is battered.

In Bermuda, the statistics are equally disturbing. During the month of August this year, 99 incidents of domestic violence were reported to the police, 29 of which reported the use of violence (Domestic Violence Liaison Office, DVLO, Bermuda statistics).

During the same month, the Women's Resource Centre received 25 calls regarding domestic violence, and prepared 10 court advocacy and protection documents. It is important to remember that these numbers represent only the tip of the iceberg.

Domestic violence is considered the most under-reported crime.

According to the World Health Organization, by the time a woman calls for help she has been abused an average of 32 times.

Psychological impact of domestic violence

Besides the physical injuries of violence or abuse, the psychological impact is equally if not more devastating and ultimately traumatic. Trauma resulting from domestic violence is complex and varies from woman to woman.

However, there are characteristic symptoms of psychological harm common to many abused women. These include anxiety, hyper-arousal and hyper-vigilance, phobia and panic.

The apparently erratic and self-destructive behaviours including incoherent speech patterns or emotional problems are often mistaken as mental health issues rather than the result of abuse.

Hence there is a tendency to blame the victim and to view the physical and emotional responses as problems within their personality, which leads to significant implications for professionals who treat abused women. Research suggests that the way a woman is treated when she discloses her experience of abuse will ultimately define her level of recovery.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is like brain washing in that it systematically wears away at the victim's self-confidence, sense of self-worth, trust in their own perceptions, and self-concept. Whether it is done by constant berating and belittling, by intimidation, or under the guise of "guidance," "teaching", or "advice," the results are similar. Eventually, the recipient of the abuse loses all sense of self and remnants of personal value.

Emotional abuse cuts to the very core of a person, creating scars that may be far deeper and more lasting than physical ones. With emotional abuse, the insults, insinuations, criticism and accusations slowly eat away at the victim's self-esteem until she is incapable of judging the situation realistically. She has become so beaten down emotionally that she blames herself for the abuse.

Her self-esteem is so low that she clings to the abuser. Emotional abuse victims can become so convinced that they are worthless that they believe that no one else could want them. They stay in abusive situations because they believe they have nowhere else to go.

Christine Rhodes is a counsellor with the Women's Resource Centre.

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