Domestic Violence, Psychological Theory, Culture, and Health
Amy E. Contreras
California State University, Long Beach
Introduction There are a variety of factors that contribute into defining domestic violence. These factors can include physical assault, sexual assault, emotional and psychological abuse, and/or any other action that can be used by a spouse or partner to control or have power over the other person in the relationship. Domestic violence can be explained through psychological theories, such as learning theories and sex-role theory; it affects a person’s health, and culture can influence domestic violence. This paper will focus on the social science, applied science, and diversity disciplines; with a psychological, …show more content…
Different cultures can have a different definition of what abuse is. There can also be different domestic abuse attitudes within different cultures. In Latino families, there are clear sex roles that are embedded in a patriarchal household. In some cases in the Latino community, women are objectified and are taught to be submissive to their husbands (Mattson & Ruiz, 2005). The Latino culture emphasizes that suffering is something that is normal and that women need to do. Women are frequently defined as their roles in the family. In this community, the woman is placed in a vulnerable role of a potential victim of domestic abuse (Mattson & Ruiz, 2005). Women are taught to be passive and submissive; men are taught to be dominant and assertive in the Latino community. The term “machismo” is used to describe the occurrence of violence, to maintain control and power over the woman (Mattson & Ruiz, 2005). It is often used in Mexican culture and other Latino cultures. Physical and psychological abuses are strong components that are involved in machismo. Alcohol is another factor that the Latino culture attributes to domestic violence. Religion also tends to play a big role in Latino culture. Women reported a reason for staying with their husband was because of their religious beliefs and their worry on what the church would think (Mattson & Ruiz, …show more content…
It required a lot of reading and studying different articles. While I was conducting my literature review, I found it difficult to pick and choose what I wanted to include in my paper. Each article contained so much important information that I had a hard time trying to find a focus for this paper. With all the different articles I was using, I believe the thoughts and opinions I had prior to the research were influenced and changed. I started noticing patterns in research about the topic that I never looked at from the authors’ perspective; for example, the reoccurring theme of sex roles. As a Latina woman, sex roles are very prevalent in my life and I never questioned it. I always knew men and women had very distinct roles from each other. Learning more about domestic violence, I now believe that these roles that so many women portray need to be questioned and looked more in
Amy E. Contreras
California State University, Long Beach
Introduction There are a variety of factors that contribute into defining domestic violence. These factors can include physical assault, sexual assault, emotional and psychological abuse, and/or any other action that can be used by a spouse or partner to control or have power over the other person in the relationship. Domestic violence can be explained through psychological theories, such as learning theories and sex-role theory; it affects a person’s health, and culture can influence domestic violence. This paper will focus on the social science, applied science, and diversity disciplines; with a psychological, …show more content…
Different cultures can have a different definition of what abuse is. There can also be different domestic abuse attitudes within different cultures. In Latino families, there are clear sex roles that are embedded in a patriarchal household. In some cases in the Latino community, women are objectified and are taught to be submissive to their husbands (Mattson & Ruiz, 2005). The Latino culture emphasizes that suffering is something that is normal and that women need to do. Women are frequently defined as their roles in the family. In this community, the woman is placed in a vulnerable role of a potential victim of domestic abuse (Mattson & Ruiz, 2005). Women are taught to be passive and submissive; men are taught to be dominant and assertive in the Latino community. The term “machismo” is used to describe the occurrence of violence, to maintain control and power over the woman (Mattson & Ruiz, 2005). It is often used in Mexican culture and other Latino cultures. Physical and psychological abuses are strong components that are involved in machismo. Alcohol is another factor that the Latino culture attributes to domestic violence. Religion also tends to play a big role in Latino culture. Women reported a reason for staying with their husband was because of their religious beliefs and their worry on what the church would think (Mattson & Ruiz, …show more content…
It required a lot of reading and studying different articles. While I was conducting my literature review, I found it difficult to pick and choose what I wanted to include in my paper. Each article contained so much important information that I had a hard time trying to find a focus for this paper. With all the different articles I was using, I believe the thoughts and opinions I had prior to the research were influenced and changed. I started noticing patterns in research about the topic that I never looked at from the authors’ perspective; for example, the reoccurring theme of sex roles. As a Latina woman, sex roles are very prevalent in my life and I never questioned it. I always knew men and women had very distinct roles from each other. Learning more about domestic violence, I now believe that these roles that so many women portray need to be questioned and looked more in