|
| |
People who batter are of all ages, races, religions and socioeconomic
backgrounds. Batterers may hold white-collar jobs or be unemployed.
Alcohol or other drug abuse is known to be a contributing factor in at
least 50 percent of reported family violence cases, but many batterers
do not abuse drugs. In short, there isn't any "typical" profile of
people who
batter. But there are some common behaviors and a large portion are
male.
- People
who batter may deny having a problem and minimize the effect
their violence has on their partners.
- Most people who batter are violent only with their partners.
- Many show extreme jealousy and possessiveness which often causes
them to isolate the victim from friends and family
- They refuse to take responsibility for their actions. They blame
their loss of control on their partner, frustration or stress or
on the effects of alcohol or other drugs.
- They tend to hold rigid, traditional views of sex roles and parenting
and a negative attitude towards their intimate partner or others.
- Batterers may have grown up in homes where they or a sibling were
physically abused, or where the mother was abused by the father.
- They have a low tolerance for stress
- They often make unrealistic demands on their partners.
- Some may appear depressed or even make suicidal gestures.
- They may appear charming and caring, especially in their relation-
ships outside of the marriage. But within the relationship, they are
controlling and manipulative.
- They may experience feeling of inadequacy and a sense of helpless-
ness compounded by the possible threat of losing a partner.
|
