Domestic Violence - Research Paper Example

 If one were to start listing the possessions they truly have ownership over in this world, they would not get far. Sharing this world with others has brought with it a delicate concept: possession. In a world where people are born without so much as clothing on their backs, there is no effortless way to decide who owns what. The Ten Commandments brought amongst them, a reasonable start to this list: ‘Thou shall not kill.’ One may not rob anyone else of his or her right to live. The simple yet meaningful message embedded in this commandment forbids one to steal another person’s right to live, as that right is one possession which should not be confused for someone else’s. To see the frequent occurrence of domestic violence, and the resultant deaths caused by it, makes one wonder as to whether the simplicity of this commandment was only subjective. A diverse array of people exists in the world. Some wish for justice, others wish for peace. Some propose violence in the name of revenge while others oppose brutality. It is therefore difficult to preach to a single choir, the numerous reasons why adherence to the commandment ‘Thou shall not kill,’ is beneficial, if not essential, for human beings. Taking the example of domestic violence, however, it is easier to realize the necessity of this directive. A devastatingly harsh reality, domestic violence continues to take the lives of one thousand to sixteen hundred women every year in America. (Websdale and Byron, pp. 183-198). This issue is not given due importance, perhaps due to the sensitive nature it possesses. This matter serves as a prime example for why killing is an unacceptable deed. This is because; it shows murder as a byproduct of violence, which is one of the main reasons why human beings should abstain from it. Murder is not simply the action of ending a person’s life. It also involves the display of many unpleasant emotions in a human being, which society does not welcome. Some of the various reasons why people commit murder are jealousy, hatred, and greed. It is safe to assume that the result of such distasteful feelings is likely to be just as objectionable. In addition, indeed, there are only a few deeds more objectionable than murder. Domestic violence, for instance, does not start with the intention of murder. Perpetrators do it, as studies show, mostly out of frustration and due to unresolved anger issues. In addition, they use it as a way of exerting power on the physically weaker gender (Johnson and Ferraro, pp. 948-963). However, it ends up taking the lives of thousands or victims every year. The less a human being tries to control his or her unpleasant emotions, the more violent he or she gets. Thus to avoid violence-related murder, one has to try to stay away from all such unpleasant emotions. It is thus a wise command to avoid murder, as in order to fulfill this commandment, one would have to make an effort to avoid the range of feeling, which is considered the dark side of human emotion. Another reason why murder should be avoided is that it is barbaric and inhumane. Not caring about the lives or well-being of other human beings is a human feeling. However, to feel something positive after bringing another human being to his or her demise is a characteristic which only sociopaths may be able to relate to. There is no question as to whether the act of robbing someone of his or her life is cruel or not. It may be justified with a reason appropriate to the situation, as is the case with capital punishment. Nevertheless, the act itself requires a person who is not opposed to brutality. In every case of domestic violence, the perpetrator treats their spouse violently and brutally. They do so without considering both, the consequences of their actions, and the feelings of the spouse. Their only real concern is to make a statement, or to release their anger in any way they can. The fact that their cruelty is often severe enough to kill the victim proves how high a level of brutality murder requires, one where the doer feels no one’s pain except their own. To live amongst people this desensitized to the pain of their fellow human beings, would perhaps make the world a miserable place to live in. Thus, by ordering the human beings not to kill, the Ten Commandments implied the minimum need for hostility in society. Without this guideline, a pleasant world would not be possible. While, murder and murder-related violence are frowned upon, little attention is given to this violence when it does not end in death. In fact, there are often detrimental effects of violence, which cannot be deemed any better than death itself. Domestic violence again serves as a paradigm for this type of violence. There are not only several harmful effects on the spouse who is the victim, but also effects that scar the children for life. As studies show, there is an element of control involved in this experience for both the perpetrator and the victim. According to some feminist scholars, the perpetrator exerts control over the woman through domestic violence, and tries to dominate her (Anderson, pp. 655-669). The victim spouse, usually the wife, feels a loss of personal control after an episode of violence. They feel as if they no longer have control over their lives, which, for an independent grownup is a very unwelcome feeling (Umberson et al, pp. 442-452). Thus, while the commandment ‘Thou shall not kill,’ is one very relevant to the world, it should also incorporate the effects of the violence that robs one’s life of personal control, which can be a detrimental byproduct of violence. Domestic violence is also known as a home wrecker for how it affects the children in the family. Apart from the victims themselves often emerging both physically and emotionally bruised, the children also are traumatized. As studies by Bandura, Ross, and Ross shows, children are vulnerable to learning physical aggression; if they get the chance observe a grownup doing it. If they see their parents being brutal to one another, they will surely grow up to believe that it is a socially acceptable behavior (Bandura, Ross and Ross, pp. 575-582). This fact is important to remember not only with regard to domestic violence, but also with all sorts of violence. Saying that murder should be abstained from completely is not just to guarantee the protection of the people, but to ensure that young impressionable minds are kept clean of any misconceptions which lead them to believe that violence and brutality are acceptable. It is only if their young minds are free of such misconceptions, that their parents will be able to ensure a safe, peaceful future for them. By looking at the perpetrator’s side of the story, one finds even further reason why adherence to this commandment is imperative. A person works hard every day to earn and maintain a higher status in life. He or she struggles in life to meet challenges and to learn from every experience. To persevere endlessly towards a better life, only to throw it away later on, is an action that can only be insane. When a person commits a murder, they scar their image for life. A blacklisted murderer is in the society, and reckons to be dangerous and untrustworthy. Once a person’s reputation has received these labels, it leads to the downfall of both, their careers and their personal lives. Furthermore, unless the murderer is a psychopath, they will probably go on experience guilt about their actions, which is often intense enough to take any remaining happiness out of their lives. This gives reason to anyone with a personal grudge and a motive to kill, to practice self-control. Because while the murderer only has in mind the punishment of his or her victim, they forget that, they themselves will be paying heavily for the consequences of their actions. Similarly, a person who commits domestic violence does not seem to consider how his or her actions are going to disrupt not only the lives of the whole family, but also that of him or herself (Shipway, pp. 23-41). The sacred bond of marriage, which binds the couple to protect and comfort each other in sickness and in health, is broken. To break such an essential part of their vows is a great loss for both the victim and the perpetrator, whether the latter realizes it or not. On the one hand, it may seem a selfish reason for a person to abstain from murder only to save themselves. On the other hand, one should keep in mind that many murders and related violence are done mostly for selfish, personal reasons, by people who do not care about anyone’s lives but their own. Therefore, to persuade these people about the significance of this commandment, they need to a personal motive. There will however, be advocates of murder, who favor capital punishment. In a world where people demand an eye for an eye, there is no doubt that, at least a few people will find murder acceptable in a few cases. While they cannot be denied justice by the legal system, they argue on a completely different threshold, and their arguments are different from the ones made above, which are more in reference to murder itself instead of punishment for murder. It is thus imperative that human beings adhere to this commandment. Its importance is sometimes difficult to grasp with reference to our daily lives. Therefore, applying this commandment to a problem often heard about in daily life proves helpful. To view domestic violence as a cause of murder, we are able to realize better why this commandment is one to take seriously. In the case of domestic violence, reasons to abstain from it are visible from the perspective of every person involved. Whether this person is the powerless victim, the innocent bystander or even the frustrated perpetrator, murder and related violence is nevertheless a brutal practice, which harms everyone involved. Furthermore, this commandment further helps us follow another of the Ten Commandments: ‘Thou shall not steal.’ It clarifies that another human being’s life is a possession that we are not authorized to steal. It is therefore safe to conclude that this is an immensely important commandment to obey, and helps us regulate the society we live in. Works Cited Anderson, Kristin L. “Gender, Status, and Domestic Violence: An Integration of Feminist and Family Violence Approaches.” Journal of Marriage and Family. Vol. 59, No. 3 (Aug. 1997), pp. 655-669. Bandura, Ross, and Ross. “Transmission of Agression through Imitation of Aggressive Models.” Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 1961. 63, pp. 575-582 Johnson, Michael P. and Ferraro, Katheen J. “Research on Domestic Violence in the 1990s: Making Distinctions”. Journal of Marriage and Family. Vol. 62, No. 4 (Nov 2000), pp. 948-963. Shipway, Lyn. Domestic Violence. Routledge, 2004. Umberson et al. “Domestic Violence, Personal Control, and Gender.” Journal of Marriage and Family, Vol. 60, No. 2 (May 1998), pp. 442-452. Websdale, Neil and Byron, Johnson. “Battered Women’s Vulnerability to HIV Infection.” Justice Professional. 10(4) (1997). 183-198. Read More