National Challenges Domestic Abuse

Domestic Violence and Abuse: Ethical Issues

Domestic violence is an epidemic in the U.S., but it is frequently a hidden one: many women are afraid to report what they are suffering to the authorities. "Over two-thirds of violent victimizations against women were committed by someone known to them: 31% of female victims reported that the offender was a stranger. Approximately 28% were intimates such as husbands or boyfriends, 35% were acquaintances, and the remaining 5% were other relatives…In 2003, among all female murder victims in the U.S., 30% were slain by their husbands or boyfriends" (Domestic violence statistics, 2011, AARDVARC). Some of these battered women may still harbor genuine affection for their partner, given that they associate violence with 'caring.' Others may genuinely want to separate themselves from their attacker but may fear they cannot economically survive on their own. Counselors and social workers dealing with victims of domestic violence must address all of these concerns and be able to point women in the direction of resources that can aid them. Battered women shelters can provide immediate refuge, but frequently women must find ways to navigate the legal system (such as obtaining a restraining order) and also find sources of education to economically empower themselves so they will not be dependent upon a male.

The Duluth Model which was developed following a serious domestic violence homicide that took place in Duluth, Minnesota is a treatment approach that involves the courts, police services, and social service agencies in dealing with domestic violence. Guiding the model's development are the following critical questions: "Why is she the target of his violence? How does his violence impact the balance of power in their relationship? What did he think could change by hitting her? Why does he assume he is entitled to have power in the relationship? How does the community support his use of violence against her? (Pence & Paymar, 1993, p. xiii, cited by Amaral).

Although some theorists have criticized the Duluth Model as insufficient in its ability to explain same-sex violence and violence against children, it is a helpful guide for social workers specifically dealing with male-on-female violence in the context of intimate relationships, which form a significant percentage of domestic violence cases (Lawson 2003). The model suggests that violence is rooted in perceived power relationships and how strength and masculinity is conceptualized in the model.

One of the difficulties in treating domestic violence for a counselor, however, is that there is also a demand to treat the perpetrator of the abuse as well as the victim. The victim must often be dissuaded from the idea that she 'brought on the abuse.' However, an approach to couples counseling may stress the 'mutuality' of blame in events in a manner that is not conducive to motivating the woman to leave an untenable and dangerous situation. Counselors may need to request to treat partners separately and not to treat both parties to the conflict. This is not to deny the value of counseling abusers about the need to find other ways to deal with anger and define their masculinity and how they define love and strength.

However, the women's/victim's safety (regardless of gender) must still be protected and the counselor or social worker must be the advocate of his or her client first and foremost, in keeping with the Code of Ethics 1.06a-d of social workers: "Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment… When social workers provide services to two or more people who have a relationship with each other (for example, couples, family members), social workers should clarify with all parties which individuals will be considered clients and the nature of social workers' professional obligations to the various individuals who are receiving services. Social workers who anticipate a conflict of interest among the individuals receiving services or who anticipate having to perform in potentially conflicting roles…should clarify their role with the parties involved and take appropriate action to minimize any conflict of interest."