Domestic Violence: The Bystander Effect

1371 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social theory on domestic violence

Have you ever stopped and wondered what causes society to be selfish and not help others when they are in need? Throughout the life existence of humans we have always tried to figure out the inner workings of the brain and what causes us human beings to behave or do the things we do, but to this day it still remains a mystery. During the last few centuries, however, great steps have been made in understanding why we behave and think the way we do. Lauren Slater, a psychologist and author, is widely recognized for her book “Opening Skinner’s Box,” in which she describes in detail some of the greatest and most influential psychological experiments of the twentieth century. All of the experiments mentioned in this empowering book discuss the relationship …show more content…

There are many types of violence cases, for example, domestic violence with humans and animals is one. There is a high amount of cases of domestic violence in women, children and also animals. People witness domestic violence, but do nothing to help the victim because they do not know the person so do not want to get involved to help. Bystander feels that if they do something to help this can come back to them so they rather stay away from the problem. Avi Gottlieb a professor of sociology and anthropology at Tel Aviv University states, “Bystanders may feel that their behavior can be discovered subsequently, and that they are yet accountable to other witnesses, the victim, or formal authorities.” Many bystanders are afraid to be identified if they help a victim of a violent crime because they fear that they might come after them. Domestic violence is a big problem that society faces and many witnesses this but do not do anything to help that innocent person or animal due to the fact that we do not see why we should be responsible in helping. “It places a significant economic burden on public services including the criminal justice system, health and social care services. DV constitutes a significant proportion of all violent crime” (Gallagher 55). Domestic violence is said to be a burden of society, we see this everyday but we do not do anything to stop

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of I Am Not Your Victim: Anatomy Of Domestic Violence

    420 Words  | 1 Pages

    One of the reasons why IPV victims do not leave his or her abusers is due to isolation. This one of the any methods abusers use in order to achieve control over his or her victims. Abusers isolate the victim by cutting the victim's ties to any support system and resources. A support system includes family, friends, classmates, coworkers, and the government. Isolation is one of the many methods used in order to gain control over the victim’s life. In the autobiographical novel, I Am Not Your Victim: Anatomy of Domestic Violence, the author Beth Sipe discusses the domestic violence that she had suffered during her 16 year marriage. Sipe describes their “romance,” the abuse of power, Sam isolating her and her family, the confusion, the fear, the

    Read More

  • Silent Screams: Cases of Domestic Violence in The United States

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is the tenth time that Lisa has been admitted to the hospital within the past two years. At least this time there aren’t any broken bones or concussions to worry about. Lisa only has two black eyes, a patch of her beautiful long hair forcibly yanked from her head, a nasty black and blue bruise on her neck and a few nails ripped directly from the newly manicured nail beds. Lisa swore to God and her best friend Brandy that this was the final straw. Actually, she made that exact same pledge under oath just three months ago, yet she is coincidently in the same position she vowed never to return to. This time was different though. She was making plans to move her things out of the small apartment that she shared with her boyfriend the minute she was discharged from Sinai Grace Hospital, and what seem to be her home away from home. Lisa has made plans for her mom to babysit her 2 year old daughter while she searches for work, and Brandy has already told Lisa she can stay with her as long as she needed to. Yet, the very next day, Lisa calls to inform Brandy that she decided to stay with Jason despite of the awful things that he has done to her. Lisa believes that Jason has changed overnight and that he deserves a second chance, besides a child needs to be raised with both parents in the home. Unfortunately Brandy was not at all surprised by the phone call, in fact, she was expecting it. As the wave of guilt and the “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve” attempts to overcome Brandy again, she quickly snapped back into reality, wiped the tears off her face and placed the white roses on Lisa’s tombstone. A story like Lisa’s usually raises the million dollar question; why do women stay in abusive relationships? Across the nation...

    Read More

  • Who's Worse? The Dangers of Bystanders in Witness to the Holocaust

    621 Words  | 2 Pages

    All in all, if we do not stand up then we only affirm the perpetrators, and if there are too many that affirm perpetrators instead of standing up for the victim, bystanders can prove to be more dangerous than the perpetrators.

    Read More

  • The Day It Happened by Rosario Morales

    1290 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is defined as a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners” (Peeks-Asa). When it comes to domestic violence, many people don’t want to get involved, but if just one person took a stand, maybe others would follow and potentially save a life, like the neighbors did in The Day It Happened by Rosario Morales. Domestic violence can happen to anyone at any time, there is no typical victim or perpetrator. The fact that there is no one specific group that domestic violence occurs in more than one, only makes it more difficult to get an accurate representation of just who is being affected by this crime. “Domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate” (Smith and Segal).

    Read More

  • The History of Domestic Violence in the United States

    476 Words  | 1 Pages

    Violent behavior by men against their family members were traditionally considered private matters. We recognize public violence as being morally wrong or socially destructive. Domestic violence and child abuse are two forms of private violence that were more or less immune from public scrutiny and considered inappropriate for "outsiders" to intervene in unless the problem reached extreme proportions.

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence in the United States

    2207 Words  | 5 Pages

    “Domestic violence is an emotional, physical, psychological, or sexual abuse perpetrated against a person by a person's spouse, former spouse, partner, former partner or by the other parent of a minor child” (McCue 2). While it is these things, the violence is also considered a pattern of demeanor used to establish power and control over another person with whom an intimate relationship is or has been shared through fear and intimidation (“Domestic Violence Sourcebook” 9). It has many names, including spouse abuse, domestic abuse, domestic assault, battering, partner abuse, marital strife, marital dispute, wife-beating, marital discord, woman abuse, dysfunctional relationship, intimate fighting, mate beating, and so on (2). Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Accommodations, believes that domestic violence is “terrorism in the home” (2). This type of abuse involves threats, harm, injury, harassment, control, terrorism, or damage to living beings/property (2). It isn't only in relationships with spouses, it also occurs within family, elderly, and children (9).

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence and Abuse

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    Other people often overlook domestic abuse. People generally do not like to get themselves involved in other people’s problems, especially when they believe there might be problems at home. For one reason or the other, the person who is the witness to someone who is being abused by their spouse does not want to report the crime, or get involved at all, because they are afraid something violent will happen to them for trying to help. Inside the relationship, there are many signs of the abuse. The biggest sign is that you completely fear your partner. Domestic abuse does not start the day that you meet your partner. It can start a week, month, or even years after.

    Read More

  • The Effects Of Domestic Violence

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Domestic violence is a major problem in the United States. When most people think of domestic violence, they think of one person beating the other person in a relationship. Webster defines domestic violence as “the inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another.” Domestic violence has a major effect on children. Some people say that the violence has no effect, while others argue that the violence has a negative effect on children. Domestic violence scars children for the rest of their lives. Once children witness the act of violence, they are more likely to have problems throughout the rest of their lives. Domestic Violence has a negative effect on the way children behave, the way they learn, the careers they choose,

    Read More

  • Issues with Domestic Violence

    1417 Words  | 3 Pages

    Domestic violence is a complex issue that plagues society regularly. Judicial systems all over the United States have attempted to create regulations to protect victims of domestic abuse. Furthermore, scattered scarcely throughout the United States are non-profit and small organizations which attempt to supplement the judicial protection with additional resources. Nevertheless, domestic abuse seems to be much bigger than any services these systems can maintain. Victims of domestic violence suffer with harmful issues even judicial and non-profit systems have yet to overcome and as society advances, even more issue seem to arise.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Domestic Violence

    1879 Words  | 4 Pages

    Most people in society are one sided when it comes to domestic violence. Most people automatically think domestic violence as men abusing women. Most people believe domestic violence is associated with gender. For instance, some people associate men with violent, destructive, and belligerent behavior. While women are often seen as innocent, fragile, and vulnerable. For many years men were the ones showing violent behavior, so most people believe men are usually the aggressor. Many people believe men should never abuse a woman, and if he does he will charged and most likely serve jail time. Although, women are not viewed the same way. Over the years women have become just as aggressive and violent as men have been portrayed. Many women who are violent are given a pass if they abuse a man. More simply, their behavior is overlooked, because they are not seen as a threat to society, so they will most likely not be jailed or punished for their behavior. In addition, there are many resources to help women get out of domestic violence situations. For instance, there are hotlines they can call, shelters they can visit, and support

    Read More

  • The Effects of Domestic Violence

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    Domestic violence is one of the most under-reported crimes in the US because it’s not easy reporting someone you know to the police. “Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by an opposing spouse annually in the United States” (American bar). Keep in mind these are the statistics for reported crimes, and domestic violence is one of the most under-reported crimes in the U.S. “Nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence” (prosecutor). Most people know someone who has died because of domestic violence, in an abusive relationship or is a victim of abuse from a family member. It is common for us to know someone involved in these issues because it is happening to all people, not just one race or social status.

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence and Public Policy

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unmistakably, domestic violence is a major issue in modern society, not only to the affected persons, but also to the entire community. Failure by the government to adequately address this aspect is most likely to expose more citizens to greater danger, which could include death. In view of this, Congress and other political leaders should adopt strict policies on domestic violence, because most citizens are suffering in one way or another from the effects of domestic violence. This is ostensibly because the current legal system does not sufficiently provide for the required protection, when it comes to domestic violence, and the situation at the moment is critical (Shipway, 20). This essay paper analyses some of the appropriate policy measures that the government, through congress should consider to make sure human rights are upheld.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: What´s A Bystander?

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, that opposing argument can be found as hypocritical. If a person was getting robbed in an ally and they saw many witnesses taking no action they would likely be upset by the fact of no one is offering any assistance to them. Bystanders should put themselves into the shoes of the person in need and ask themselves how they would expect others to respond if they were the one in need. Often time’s bystanders take no intervention because of the diffusion of responsibility. “When there are four or more people who are bystanders to an emergency situation, the likelihood that at least one of them will help is just 31%” (Gaille). Another statistic shows that 85% of people who were bystanders would intervene if they knew or at least though they were the only person present in the situation. Often the only thing keeping people from intervening in bystander situations are other people. It is important for bystanders to understand the statistics of the people around them in order to create action because often times they do not realize that if they were to intervene other people would likely support them in the situation. Bystanders need to make it a personal responsibility to intervene in situations for the good of other. If people were to always take action the amount of bullying, sexual harassment, crime, and many other significant issues within a society would drastically

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence and the Effect it has on Family

    1602 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Domestic violence is a violent confrontation between family or household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm” (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). In most places domestic violence is looked on as one of the higher priorities when trying to stop crime. Domestic Violence cases are thought to be influenced by the use of alcohol, drugs, stress or anger but in reality, they are just learned behaviors by the batterer. These habits can be stopped as long as one seeks help (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). For instance, a child is brought up in a household that is constantly involved in criminal acts. As this child grows up, the criminal lifestyle will be synonymous with his/her behavior. With that being said, it is also a given fact that if a household and its members are surrounded with violence, the relationships between one another will be strained. Eventually this will end up in a divorce or even worse, death, depending on how far the violence goes. If there is violence in a family, then the ones who are affected by it may feel like they deserve it because of what the batterer is accusing them of doing. Battering occurs among people of all races, ages, socio-economic classes, religious affiliations, occupations, and educational backgrounds (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). Domestic violence can affect families in more aspects than one; the husband-wife relationship, the children, and also the financial stability.

    Read More

  • Solutions to the Problem of Domestic Violence

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    Domestic violence is skyrocketing in our society. In the U.S., as many as 1.5 million women and 850,000 men were physically assaulted by their intimate partner last year, and numerous children abused by their parents. These sad criminal acts will continue to grow in our society, unless our community takes action to stop these crimes. First of all, the most important tool we have available against this type of crime are the authorities, which include the police department, hospital, and social workers. If they manage to work together as a team to make the whole process of protecting a victim more efficient, it will encourage victims to actually phone for help.

    Read More

More about Domestic Violence: The Bystander Effect

Open Document