General Characteristics of Battered Woman Syndrome

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Battered Woman Syndrome An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. A surfacing psychological condition known as Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS), develops after experiencing physical and emotional abuse over an extended period of time. BWS has been subcategorized as a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, proving that it is indeed, a very serious and severe condition. Battered Woman Syndrome causes severe, emotional and psychological trauma in women after prolonged abuse in an intimate relationship; the number of Battered Woman cases in America is rising each year and it is necessary that more attention be brought to its significance as well as the victims being effected. More informational programs can be used to prevent domestic violence as well as raise awareness for the battered women who will forever be traumatized by their abusive experience. Like many syndromes, BWS has several general characteristics that can be associated with a battered woman: “the woman believes that the inflicted violence is her fault, she perpetually fears for her life/lives of her children, and she has an irrational belief that the abusive party is omniscient and omnipresent” (“Battered Woman Syndrome Defined”). Even after a battered woman is freed from the cycle of abuse, treatment will be needed to extensively guide the victim back to a safe reality. Women who are diagnosed as “battered” would have to had experienced the full cycle of stages during the abuse. The beginning stage involves only moderate encounters that consist of small fights and arguments. The following stage is an eruption of physical and verbal violence which then leads into the very calm period that is also known as the “ho... ... middle of paper ... ... Center for Prevention of Abuse - Preventing Domestic Violence. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2014. Dixon, Joe W. "Battered Woman Syndrome." Battered Women Syndrome. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2014. Scholz, Sally. "20th WCP: Moral Implications of the Battered Woman Syndrome." 20th WCP: Moral Implications of the Battered Woman Syndrome. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2014. Susman, Tina. "Jury Accepts Battered Wife Defense." LATimes. N.p., Oct. 2011. Web. Apr. 2014. "The DELTA Program: At A Glance." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Dec. 2013. Web. Apr. 2014. Veilleux, Ann. "Why Women Stay: Understanding The Battered Wife." Ann Veilleux. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2014. Walker, Lenore E. "Battered Woman Syndrome: Key Elements of a Diagnosis and Treatment Plan - Psych Central Professional." PsychCentral.com. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2014.

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