¶ … Helplessness (Domestic Violence)

Domestic violence is a social problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. This is evident by the fact that it is estimated that anywhere between two to four million women are battered each year. Often, the battering results in severe physical injury requiring hospitalization and emergency care (NOW, para 2). The magnitude of the problem has led to societal help and interventional measures being made available to help women who are victimized by domestic violence. Yet, there are many women who choose to stay in abusive relationships primarily due to a psychological condition, which is termed as the "battered woman syndrome." Viewed as a subcategory of post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), the "battered woman syndrome" hypothesizes that the ongoing trauma suffered by battered women leads to development of coping mechanisms, which make her unable to predict the results of her actions, and so, she acts in a way that offers her the greatest safety (Roberts, 1996, p. 34).

Though a battered woman's greatest safety may, in fact, lie in leaving an abusive relationship, the fear caused by a history of battering may result in a condition called "learned helplessness." This feeling of helplessness leads to "behavioral responses that will have the highest predictability of an effect within the known, or familiar, situation." (Roberts, 1996, p. 34) In other words, she learns that passiveness and submissiveness is the safest measure available to her. This learning largely stems from a feeling of helplessness, which is caused by constant abuse that lowers a battered woman's levels of self-esteem (Dewdney & Harris, 1994, p. 56). Thus, the concept of "learned helplessness" explains the reason why battered women choose to stay in an abusive relationship.

References

Dewdney, P., & Harris, R.M. Barriers to Information: How Formal Help Systems Fail

Battered Women. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

NOW. Violence Against Women in the United States. National Organization for Women

Web site. Retrieved July 9, 2004: http://www.now.org/issues/violence/stats.html

Roberts, A.R. (1996). Helping Battered Women: New Perspectives and Remedies. New York: Oxford University Press.