| A few years ago, the Georgia Department of Human | | | | set them off. That means a tough day at work, |
| Resource put out a report which stated that every | | | | unfounded jealousy or just seeing their spouse in a |
| nine seconds a woman in the United States becomes | | | | good mood which they did not authorize. The point is |
| the victim of domestic violence. That is a shocking | | | | to continually exercise that power over the victim. |
| statistic. Former Wisconsin Congressman Mark Green | | | | And it never stops. There is never a time when the |
| put it in perspective when he stated, "If the numbers | | | | abuser finally feels totally in control and lets up on |
| we see in domestic violence were applied to | | | | their significant other. The lower the victim sinks the |
| terrorism or gang violence, the entire country would | | | | more invincible the abuser feels. Like a king from the |
| be up in arms, and it would be the lead story on the | | | | Middle Ages that has conquered land as far as the |
| news every night." | | | | eye can see, they feel powerful but they always |
| Indeed it would and then maybe the glaring and harsh | | | | want more. |
| spotlight would focus on the people that have turned | | | | So it is no surprise that when the victim tries to flee |
| domestic violence into the epidemic that it is; the | | | | this nightmare, her risk of being severely injured or |
| abusers. There are many motivating factors that | | | | worse increases dramatically, about seventy five |
| cause a spouse to lash out at their significant other. | | | | percent according to the Coalition for Battered |
| As a child they may have been exposed to domestic | | | | Women. |
| violence by their parents. From that experience, the | | | | Barbara Price is the executive director, "He's losing |
| abuser may have figured (incorrectly of course) that | | | | power and control, and that's what it's about. Ms |
| was how things were supposed to be regarding | | | | Price tells Barbara Stewart of The New York Times |
| man-woman relationships. They loved their father so | | | | the logic goes something like this, ''If I can't have |
| how could he be wrong? | | | | you, no one will." |
| Another possibility is that they themselves | | | | Meaning no one, especially not the victim is going to |
| experienced that brutality first hand. The interaction | | | | take away their power. Yes some of these |
| between parent and child was a violent one. They still | | | | individuals finally wake up to what they have been |
| feel the pain and anger from that time in their lives | | | | doing and decide to get help. With far too many |
| and are constantly reliving it much to the detriment | | | | others, no such luck. |
| of their spouse or girlfriend. | | | | The potential loss of power and control makes them |
| It could be any or all of the above or even a whole | | | | even more determined to get it back. Whatever |
| different set of reasons for verbally and physically | | | | tenuous grasp they had with reality before has |
| assaulting the person they supposedly love. However | | | | slipped away. They become blinded with just one |
| there is one aspect more than all the others that | | | | obsession and that is to restore the kingdom to its |
| keeps the cycle of violence going. Power. | | | | rightful heir; namely themselves. And when the |
| As one abuser told Oprah Winfrey, "I had every | | | | significant others who were the victims of this abuse |
| intention to take her life. I felt like I had power and | | | | refuse to cooperate? The statistics and many of the |
| control over something in my life. It made me feel | | | | tragic stories we see on the nightly news are the |
| invincible." | | | | result. |
| Abusers are the ultimate control freaks. Anything can | | | | |