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Why Men Batter |
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Many theories have been developed to explain why some men use violence against their partners. These theories include: family dysfunction, inadequate communication skills, provocation by women, stress, chemical dependency, lack of spirituality and economic hardship. |
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These issues may be associated with battering of women, but they are not the causes. Removing these associated factors will not end men's violence against women. A more accurate picture of the causes of battering needs to include the social conditions that permit and even encourage violence against women. Such conditions include traditional sex roles that teach men to dominate and women to submit. |
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The batterer begins and continues his behaviour because violence is an effective method for gaining and keeping control over another person and usually he does not suffer adverse consequences as a result of his behaviour. |
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Batterers come from all groups and backgrounds, and from all personality profiles. However, some characteristics fit a general profile of a batterer: |
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 a batterer objectifies women. He does not see women as people nor does he respect women as a group. Overall, he sees women as property or sexual objects.
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men who beat their wives and girlfriends usually have low self-esteem and feel powerless and ineffective in the world. Outwardly he may appear successful, but inside he feels inadequate. |
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a batterer externalizes the causes of his behaviour. He blames his violence on circumstances such as stress, his partner's behaviour, a "bad day", alcohol or other factors. |
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a batterer may be pleasant and charming between periods of violence, and is often seen as a "nice guy" to outsiders |
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some behavioural warning signs of a potential batterer include extreme jealousy, possessiveness, a bad temper, unpredictability, cruelty to animals and verbal abusiveness. |
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Battering men offer a lot of excuses for beating and verbally abusing the women they profess to love: |
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"I was drunk and couldn't control myself" |
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"I've been under a lot of stress at work" |
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"You make me angry. If you would change, I wouldn't hit you" |
| THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE. |
| Get help for yourself if you use physical force to |
| control anyone in your life. |
| If you use physical force to control anyone in your life get help for yo |