Acts that violate the rights of a weaker partner in a partnership are termed domestic abuse. Family settings are common locations for the incidence of gender-based violence, which the perpetrators virtually always conceal. The shame associated with naming and shaming perpetrators of domestic abuse has contributed to an increase in gender-based violence, which can sometimes be fatal. Cassy did not divorce Glen due to multitude of reasons, including codependent relationships and psychological trauma.
In the relationship between Cassy and Glen, there is a recurring pattern of physical, emotional abuse. It is demonstrated by Glen occasionally engaging in aggressive behavior, even requiring hospitalization. The cycle of abuse follows a repeated pattern of tension in the family, the actual incident of abuse where Cassy is punched. The couple then reconciles and for some time, everything is calm, until something triggers the abuser, and violence is repeated. When a third party reported Glen abusing his child to the authorities, there is probable cause to think that child abuse occurred. Abuse of a child as a witness occurs when parents permit their young children to observe them engaged in regular conflict, which has the potential to impact their lives negatively.
Domestic abuse is the subject of the case study of Glen and Cassy. It is composed of married couples who keep tight personal relationships. The scenario in the case study contains violent characteristics, such as physical, sexual, psychological/emotional, verbal, and economic/financial abuse, among others (Kourti et al., 2021). They never engaged in a physical confrontation without exchanging words beforehand. Because the children of these marriages are also psychologically damaged, we can describe this situation as one of domestic violence because it involves children.
Glen views Cassy as an object and frequently believes her to be his possession. He frequently invents bizarre explanations for his behavior. For instance, he strikes Cassy because he is unhappy that she is pregnant (Raypole, 2021). Glen has low self-esteem and a sense of powerlessness and ineffectiveness in his life when he is not hooked on drugs. Battered woman syndrome, also known as battered person syndrome, is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that can appear in a victim of physical or sexual abuse, usually at the hands of an intimate partner.
Cassy never ceased attempting to excuse her behavior by asserting that she deserved to be punched. Cassy defended her husband’s behavior and pleaded with the police not to charge him for the assault when they attempted to mediate the situation (Gnaulati, 2019). Cassy covered her husband’s actions whenever police attempted to mediate the abuse. Cassy fiercely denied the claim made by a third party to the police that Glen had physically assaulted his kid, stating that Glen could never harm his children.
Glen and Cassy’s story contains elements of codependence. A strong desire for close personal connection is one of the defining characteristics. Even though Cassy’s husband was abusive, she was obligated to remain in the marriage. She developed an unhealthy dependence on her husband, so her sense of worth and self-esteem is directly tied to their relationship (Eldemire, 2019). In the majority of cases, this can be traced back to an earlier feeling or experience of rejection when Cassy was abused by a family member.
People remain in abusive relationships or marriages for a variety of reasons. Some individuals may be too in love with their abuser and unwilling to lose them (Holland et al., 2018). Cassy admits in the case study that she loves Glen too much to leave him in the hopes that he will eventually change. In relationships involving children, women typically endure abuse for the sake of their children. Others remain in abusive relationships out of fear of the unknown.
Domestic violence against women is a common issue that must be addressed immediately. Even when spouses dispute and fight, they must remember to keep their children in mind because such conduct might negatively impact their development. A child who is forced to witness domestic violence goes through an emotionally and psychologically excruciating trauma that might be harmful to the child’s physical health.
References
Gnaulati, E. (2019). Potential ethical pitfalls and dilemmas in the promotion and use of American Psychological Association-recommended treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychotherapy, 56(3), 374–382.
Holland, K. J., Cortina, L. M., & Freyd, J. J. (2018). Compelled disclosure of college sexual assault. American Psychologist, 73(3), 256–268.
Kourti, A., Stavridou, A., Panagouli, E., Psaltopoulou, T., Spiliopoulou, C., Tsolia, M., Sergentanis, T. N., & Tsitsika, A. (2021). Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 152483802110386.
Raypole, C. (2021). Is applied behavioral analysis (ABA) right for your child. Healthline.