Domestic Violence and Stress

Question 1

What are the four phases of the cycle of abuse?

Answer 1

Tension-Building Phase: Stress and tension build within the relationship, leading to a sense of unease or fear.
Incident (Abuse) Phase: The abuser commits acts of violence or abuse, which may be physical, emotional, or psychological.
**Reconciliation Phase: **The abuser apologizes, gives excuses, denies the abuse, or minimizes its severity, creating false hope for the victim.
Calm Phase (Honeymoon): A temporary period of peace where the abuser acts kindly, and the relationship seems to return to normal, restarting the cycle.Tension-building, abuse, reconciliation, and a return to tension.

Question 2

Why do victims struggle to leave abusive relationships?

Answer 2

The reconciliation phase offers false hope, making it harder to leave.

Question 3

What is the cycle of violence, and how is it learned?

Answer 3

Abusers often experienced violence as children, normalizing abusive behavior through learned patterns.

Question 4

How does substance abuse relate to domestic violence?

Answer 4

Alcohol and drugs exacerbate violence but are not the root cause.

Question 5

Do most domestic abusers have mental illnesses?

Answer 5

No, most abusers do not fit profiles of mental illness; their aggression is often selective and controlled.

Question 6

What is learned helplessness in the context of domestic violence?

Answer 6

Prolonged abuse diminishes victims’ ability to resist or leave, leading to feelings of powerlessness.

Question 7

What barriers do victims face when leaving abusive relationships?

Answer 7

Fear of retaliation, financial dependence, social ostracism, and cultural stigma.

Question 8

What risks do children face when exposed to domestic violence?

Answer 8

Increased risks of emotional and behavioral issues, and repeating cycles of abuse.

Question 9

Why do victims often attempt to leave multiple times?

Answer 9

Fear, limited resources, and systemic inequalities make it challenging to break free permanently.

Question 10

Why is “loss of control” a myth in understanding abusers?

Answer 10

Abusers target specific individuals and choose when and where to act violently.

Question 11

What does the family conflict model incorrectly assume about domestic violence?

Answer 11

It assumes both partners contribute equally to violence, ignoring premeditated patterns by abusers.

Question 12

Are most abusers mentally ill?

Answer 12

No, domestic violence behaviors do not align with mental illness profiles, and aggression is often deliberate.

Question 13

What role does early education play in preventing domestic violence?

Answer 13

Teaching healthy relationships, respect, and conflict resolution from a young age helps prevent abuse.

Question 14

What is the purpose of the Power and Control Wheel?

Answer 14

To help victims recognize abusive patterns, including emotional, financial, and psychological abuse.

Question 15

How do societal norms perpetuate domestic violence?

Answer 15

Gender inequality and cultural values that tolerate abuse reinforce these behaviors.

Question 16

What systemic supports are essential for victims of domestic violence?

Answer 16

Financial and legal assistance, safe shelters, and mental health services.

Question 17

How does gender inequality contribute to domestic violence?

Answer 17

Power imbalances between men and women reinforce abusive behaviors.

Question 18

Why are cultural norms significant in the context of domestic violence?

Answer 18

Some cultures tolerate or justify domestic violence as a means of maintaining control.

Question 19

What are the four components of Hill’s ABC-X Model?

Answer 19

A (Stressor), B (Resources), C (Perception), X (Crisis).

Question 20

How does the Double ABC-X Model differ from the original ABC-X Model?

Answer 20

It accounts for the pile-up of stressors and adaptation over time.

Question 21

What are the key dimensions of the Circumplex Model?

Answer 21

Cohesion, flexibility, and communication.

Question 22

How can family stress theories be applied in practice?

Answer 22

They guide interventions by identifying stressors, family strengths, and communication patterns.

Question 23

What are examples of intimidation tactics used by abusers?

Answer 23

Threatening looks, destroying property, or displaying weapons.

Question 24

How do abusers use isolation as a control tactic?

Answer 24

By limiting where victims go and who they interact with, cutting them off from support systems.

Question 25

What is economic abuse in domestic violence?

Answer 25

Controlling a victim’s access to money, preventing them from working, or withholding financial resources.

Question 26

How do abusers use children as a tactic of control?

Answer 26

By threatening to take children away or using them to manipulate the victim.

Question 27

What is the purpose of minimizing, denying, and blaming in abuse?

Answer 27

To make light of the abuse, deny it occurred, or shift the blame onto the victim.

Question 28

How did Hill view stressors in the ABC-X Model?

Answer 28

Stressors were seen as normative, not inherently positive or negative, providing opportunities for growth if handled effectively.

Question 29

What is the “pile-up of stressors” in the Double ABC-X Model?

Answer 29

The accumulation of concurrent or sequential stressors, such as a child’s birth coinciding with a job relocation and a family member’s illness.

Question 30

What does the Circumplex Model emphasize about stress?

Answer 30

That stress does not necessarily lead to abuse or dysfunction and can strengthen family relationships if managed well.

Question 31

What is cohesion in the Circumplex Model?

Answer 31

he level of emotional and physical connectedness within the family, ranging from disengaged to enmeshed.

Question 32

What is flexibility in the Circumplex Model?

Answer 32

The family’s adaptability to changing roles and rules, ranging from rigid to chaotic.