Society
teaches men to control their
relationships with women. Violence
or the threat of using it are ways
that batterers achieve power and
control over their female partners.
Unchallenged, men who batter come to
learn that violence is an acceptable
and effective way to resolve
problems.
The majority of men who batter are
not mentally ill. Viewing batterers
as "sick" wrongly excuses
them from taking responsibility for
their actions.
Batterers characteristically deny
the existence and severity of their
violence. When confronted with their
abusive behavior, they tend to blame
their partner for provoking it or
refuse to accept responsibility for
it. |
Alcoholism
or drug abuse does not cause
battering. Intoxication may only
intensify an already existing
behavior.
Men who batter come from all
classes, races, religions, income
and educational levels.
Many abusers have a rigid,
traditional view of sex roles and
parenting.
Many batterers are not violent in
other relationships, such as work or
with friends.
Batterers are more focused on their
own impulses than on the pain or
fear that their violence causes
their victims.
Batterers will continue to abuse
until society condemns their
behavior and ensures immediate
consequences for it. |
