Written by Suzanna Smith, PhD, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, University of Florida
Reviewed by Heidi Radunovich, PhD, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, University of Florida
This post is honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
If you’ve watched movies like Sleeping with the Enemy or Enough, you know how frightening and destructive domestic violence can be. The kind of abuse portrayed in these movies has been called “intimate terrorism,” and uses a variety of tactics to dominate and control a partner, including battering. It is terrifying and can be deadly.
But another, more common form of domestic violence is “situational couple violence.” When this type of pattern occurs, arguments escalate to minor violence, but one partner isn’t constantly trying to control the other.
Research published in the journal Family Relations studied 11 couples who reported situational violence and found that in these situations, a combination of influences escalated verbal arguments. Disputes progressed to yelling or name-calling, then to actions like throwing things or pushing each other, and in some cases, punching, kicking, or choking. Typically, one partner (who could be male or female) lost his or temper or “blew up” in a disagreement.
The researchers point out that no single factor was at fault. Instead, a combination of vulnerabilities, stressors, and poor coping skills served to escalate violence. For instance, many partners had traits such as a quick temper, a need to win, or trouble communicating. Some struggled with depression, problem drinking, or a history of abuse. Others faced major stressors such as big life changes and financial difficulties.
Unfortunately, the ways couples responded—withdrawing, backing down, or controlling their partner—didn’t resolve the conflict. Often, couples returned to “the same fight over and over again” (Stith et al., 2011, p. 86).
Researchers suggest that couples experiencing situational violence get help from a trained mental health professional who can assess the level of violence and teach effective strategies for resolving conflict. While this type of violence is different from intimate terrorism, it still has great potential to harm people, couples, and relationships.
(Photo credit: ira-5 by xvire1969. CC BY 2.0. Cropped.)
Further Reading:
Types of Domestic Violence–Project SAFE
References:
Johnson, M. P. & Leone, J. M. (2005). The differential effects of intimate terrorism and situational couple violence : Findings From the National Violence Against Women survey. Journal of Family Issues 2005 26: 322-349. DOI: 10.1177/0192513X04270345
Stith, S. M., Abanor-Boadu, Y., Strachman Miller, M., Menhusen, E., Moran, C., & Few-Demo, A. (2011). Vulnerabilities, stressors, and adaptations in situational violent relationships. Family Relations, 60, 73-89. DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2010.00634.x
(Originally published in a slightly different form as: Smith, S. (2011). Situational couple violence. [Radio broadcast episode]. Family Album Radio. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida.)
0
