Chapter 14: Blog

Summary:

Families can go through abuse, encounter violence, and deal with issues related to physical and mental health; this topic is discussed in Chapter 14 of the textbook. In general, people are more likely to be attacked and/or killed by a family member than by a stranger. Each year, spouses, adult children, or an intimate partner injure about 192,000 people (aged 60 years and older) and kill about 500. There are more female victims to abuse than male victims; regarding intimate partner homicides, 75 percent of the victims are women. Since 1975, spouses and boyfriends/girlfriends are more likely than ex-spouses to commit homicides (regarding intimate relationships). Some risk factors that are associated with this intimacy violence are the following: women having a higher income or education level, one or both of the partners grew up seeing a parent being abused by the other parent, the family’s income level is below the poverty line, and the family is socially isolated from neighbors and relatives. There are three phases of domestic violence between intimates that the textbook lists; the stages are the “tension-building” phase, the “acute battering incident,” and the “calm (the honeymoon phase).” As stated before, women are more likely than men to be abused. The reasons for this consist of having a negative self-image, a belief that the abuser will change, economic hardship and homelessness, the need for child support, having shame or guilt, having fear, and the event of the house becoming a prison (inescapable). Some warning signs of intimate partner abuse and violence consist of verbal abuse, disrespect, rigid sex roles, and destruction of property. Neglect is the highest form of child maltreatment. Also, about 80% of people who abuse children are the parents. The mother is the most likely family member to kill children. Reasons for adults abusing children consist of substance abuse, stress poverty, partner abuse, and divorce. Sibling abuse exists as well, consisting of name calling and ridicule, degradation, intimidation, torturing or killing a pet, and destroying personal belongings. Elders can be abused as well, primarily from a child. Reasons for elderly abuse that involve them and their abusers are due to living arrangements, social isolation, alcohol abuse, and medical costs and financial stress. Many theories, such as patriarchy theory, social learning theory, resource theory, exchange theory, and ecological systems theory can be used to explain such abuse and family homicide. Other family health issues consist of substance abuse (i.e. illegal drugs, alcohol), depression and suicide, and eating disorders (i.e. binge eating, overweight and obesity, anorexia and bulimia). Measures such as raising awareness of family issues, preventative care, and intervention therapies are being used to counteract these acts of violence.

New Material Learned:

Before reading this chapter, I was unaware of how high the percentage of abuse and homicide that can exist between spouses. I was also surprised at the rates at which the elderly are abused by the younger population.

Questions:

It’s interesting to note the levels of depression that the family can have, most interestingly with children (one wouldn’t think this to be too popular among younger children). The book also discusses suicide rates. This might be a little out there, but I was curious as to the rates of children suicide in the United States, and how to counteract this issue if it exists at a prevalent rate? What are some of the reason for this abnormal behavior among the youth?