Dating Violence

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IntroductionIn recent history, dating violence has become a paramount issue in American society. With the rates of domestic violence on the rise, much research has been conducted that provides evidence that violence during dating relationships in the teen years is a strong contributing factor to later domestic violence. Current research is revealing that a far larger percentage of teens are suffering from some amount of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in their dating relationships. Studies have shown that both those who engage in the violent behaviors, as well as those who are the victims of these acts are more likely to be involved in violent relationships in the future. The significant number of individuals involved in these behaviors during these teen years makes a great deal of implications on the roles of counselors in multiple specialties. Dating ViolenceIn order for counselors and other individuals who are involved in the lives of adolescents to be able to identify those who are suffering from dating violence, it is first key that they have an understanding of what is defined as dating violence. Dating violence is the “perception or threat of an act of violence by at least one member of an unmarried couple within the context of a dating or courtship relationship (Glass, 2003).” This type of violence can occur in three different forms: physical (hitting, pinching, shoving, or kicking), emotional (threatening, name calling, teasing, bullying or keeping away from friends of family members), or sexual (forcing partner to engage in sexual act) (CDC, 2008). Seimer and colleagues describe the process of dating violence as “a cycle of violence (Seimer, 2004).” The goal of this cycle is the exertion of power and control over t...

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...onger lasting implications. According to O’Keefe’s (2005) findings men have a tendency to fall into cycles of violence rather than only committing a single-isolated act of violence. Who is affected?Despite popular belief, dating violence occurs regardless of age, religion or ethnic or socioeconomic background (Seimer, 2004). Statistically, the demographic has the highest prevalence of dating violence victimization, and perpetration (CDC, 2008, Glass et al., 2003). There are a multitude of risk factors that seem to serve as predictors of dating violence. They include: tobacco use, drinking and driving, lack of seat belt use, episodic heavy drinking, unsafe sexual practice, access to weapons, physical fighting, expulsion or suspension from school, membership in a gang, lower levels of academic achievement, concern for personal safety and histories of dating violence.

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