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Spousal Abuse


Violence in a relationship may be an attempt to regain control.
             One of the characteristics of spousal violence is the use and abuse of power. Additionally, battered women feel a sense of powerlessness as a result of the spousal violence they have endured. Males have a need to control or dominate females; therefore, this struggle for dominance thrives on the use of coercion in the form of abuse (Klein, 1998). They may have a belief that female independence means loss of male control and their attempt to persuade or coerce the female into adopting their definition of how the relationship should be structured (Dutton, 1995 p.63). Males satisfy their need for power through having an impact on or control over another person and since their wives are readily available around the house this control, in the form of physical abuse is inflicted upon them as a means of establishing or regaining control (Klein, 1998). In many cases, this abuse is a result of this power struggle between the husband and wife. Power is defined as the ability to impose one's will on another and make life decisions (Wallace, 2002 p.183). Couples who don't share power equally in the decision- making process have the highest level of conflict and violence in their relationships (Wallace, 2002 p.183). Aggression and violence can be understood as coercive processes that reflect the aggressor's intentional decision to use force against the spouse, and the decision to punish or retaliate against the spouse for perceived disobedience (Klein, 1998). Alcohol has been linked to violence time and time again. It is a common perception that, males who drink alcohol excessively beat their spouses. This linkage has emphasized alcohol's powers as a disinhibitor. Therefore, allowing drunkenness to be an excuse for violence. The excuse of alcohol abuse is a common explanation for both the victim and the abuser. From the victim's point of view, the abuser may not really be a horrible person, but the alcohol is the cause of these episodic assaults.


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