There are a plethora of reasons that victims of domestic violence stay in an abusive relationship (Why do Abuse Victims Stay? 2008). Among them are; economic, emotional, situational and fear based reasoning’s (Wallace & Roberson 2015). There have been a multitude of studies and investigative hypotheses conjured to answer this broad and frustrating question (Wallace & Roberson 2015). Victims of domestic abuse have been asked to explain what their victimizations consisted of and many ideas have derived from their answers (Wallace & Roberson 2015). One idea has been the effects of Stockholm Syndrome, psychiatrist and criminologist Nils Bejerot devised the phrase in 1973 (Carver 2014). The syndrome creates a bond with an abuser that is sympathetic
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The idea states that a battered partner’s fears lessen over time and the longer they are away from their abuser the attachment they have becomes more prominent because of their vulnerability (Wallace & Roberson 2015). That opening helps an abuser in convincing a victim to returning by appealing to their good past experiences (Wallace & Roberson 2015). Since the abuse is periodic in nature, the appeals appear genuine and the submissive nature of the victim allows the abuser to retain power (Wallace & Roberson 2015). Additionally, the disproportionate relationship creates dependency for the victim and as their self-worth deteriorates, their abusers retain power over them (Why Don 't They Just Leave? 2012). Intimate relationships are complex when looking into domestic violence (Why do Abuse Victims Stay? 2008). The complexities are apparent when trying to decipher victim’s rationalizations and finding factors for the reasons they stay (Why do Abuse Victims Stay? 2008). With regard to finding answers, Domestic Violence Awareness Month focuses on bringing consciousness to the masses as it focuses on these issues. Simply put, domestic violence is preventable and with open social change, we can change the way people see it (Safety Alert 2012). The Domestic Violence Awareness Project reports that according to the MCADSV, “Primary prevention is changing the social norms that allow and condone violence. Preventing violence means changing our society and its institutions—targeting attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, environments and policies to eliminate those that contribute to violence and to promote those that stop the violence. Primary prevention of domestic and
The idea states that a battered partner’s fears lessen over time and the longer they are away from their abuser the attachment they have becomes more prominent because of their vulnerability (Wallace & Roberson 2015). That opening helps an abuser in convincing a victim to returning by appealing to their good past experiences (Wallace & Roberson 2015). Since the abuse is periodic in nature, the appeals appear genuine and the submissive nature of the victim allows the abuser to retain power (Wallace & Roberson 2015). Additionally, the disproportionate relationship creates dependency for the victim and as their self-worth deteriorates, their abusers retain power over them (Why Don 't They Just Leave? 2012). Intimate relationships are complex when looking into domestic violence (Why do Abuse Victims Stay? 2008). The complexities are apparent when trying to decipher victim’s rationalizations and finding factors for the reasons they stay (Why do Abuse Victims Stay? 2008). With regard to finding answers, Domestic Violence Awareness Month focuses on bringing consciousness to the masses as it focuses on these issues. Simply put, domestic violence is preventable and with open social change, we can change the way people see it (Safety Alert 2012). The Domestic Violence Awareness Project reports that according to the MCADSV, “Primary prevention is changing the social norms that allow and condone violence. Preventing violence means changing our society and its institutions—targeting attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, environments and policies to eliminate those that contribute to violence and to promote those that stop the violence. Primary prevention of domestic and