(Dobash & Dobash, 1992:25).
Deborah Kelly .
Student Number: 999002203.
Women experiencing learned helplessness described as suffering from "battered woman syndrome". (ibid;227).
Early conditioning in women's lives "attach" them to "cycle of violence". Three repetitive stages of cycle - tension building and eruption followed by a calm period. As woman engages in cycle, she becomes an accomplice to her attacks. (ibid:226).
A depressive syndrome - after continuos frustration they give up hope. Walker (1997) cited in (Stark & Flitcraft, 1996:148) They view leaving as pointless and fear it would provoke additional violence. Blackman (1989:116-117) cited in (Tifft, 1993:66).
Feelings of helplessness prevent women from seeking help from formal/informal sources. (op. Cit:1992:225) .
Victimisation that has been clinically defined ie: learned helplessness and co-dependency can reinforce the batterer's perspectives - i.e: a woman should know her place. Pence (1985:6) cited in (op. Cit 1993:94).
SOCIAL CLASS, RACE AND CULTURE.
Can play a significant part in women choosing not to leave their abusers. .
It is not uncommon, particularly for middle class women to feel reluctant to seek help and have an aversion to refiges. (Glass, 195:143).
Mooney (1994) discovered that a percentage of men who admitted using violence did not differ appreciably by class. Cited from (Mayhew et al, 1993, Women's Aid).
Racism has an additional impact of violence for African American battered women thus: loyalty to their culture, gender roles and men influenced them. (Richie, 1996:158).
One woman in therapy admitted her husband beat her but confirmed "The Christian ethic is that you stay married forever". (Caplan, 1989:146).
Negative stereotypical images can influence women to stay - idea that "only bad girls get hurt" has an impact on women staying quiet.
