-anger is an expression of extreme or passionate displeasure
-aggression is the practice of attacking without provocation
-violence is behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage or kill
-abuse is the physical, sexual or psychological maltreatment of another person(1)
This emotion and these behaviours do occur seperately but sometimes together.In Australia, they are seen as culturally acceptable ways for men, in particular to express themselves eg. sports players and movie heroes(2).
Anger and violence are often combined in domestic violence.
Social learning theory states that children model their behaviour on the behaviours they observe in their social environment. So that when children witness spousal violence in the home they then learn to act and relate to others in the same way, especially if the child identifies with the perpetrator(3).
Violence is seen as an effective means of changing behaviour, a way of achieving an end.
Violence is seen as an effective means of changing behaviour, a way of achieving an end.
Bevan and Harris' research on a small sample (39) of men receiving counselling for domestic violence found that there was a link between witnessing family violence and physical abuse as a child to later perpetrating psychological spousal abuse(4).Neglect, sexual abuse and psychological abuse as a child were seen as predicting the possibility of later physical abuse of a spouse.
So through their research domestic violence was not just a learned behaviour but other complex processes such as child maltreatment were also involved (5).
So through their research domestic violence was not just a learned behaviour but other complex processes such as child maltreatment were also involved (5).
Trudinger in an article on young men and anger refers to our culture as a 'culture of violence'(6) because he states that in certain contexts we see violence as acceptable. Though it may not be seen as the 'proper' thing to do violence is seen to be effective and is therefore often used by parents and teachers. But violence is a way of forcing things upon others and does not teach right from wrong nor other ways of engaging.
"I can think of no more powerful instrument to crush the spirit of children than being beaten by those adults who love them" (7).
Anger and violence are also dominant constructions of masculinity(8). It is culturally acceptable for men to display anger whereas it is not acceptable for women to do so.
"I can think of no more powerful instrument to crush the spirit of children than being beaten by those adults who love them" (7).
Anger and violence are also dominant constructions of masculinity(8). It is culturally acceptable for men to display anger whereas it is not acceptable for women to do so.
In a culture were violence is an accepted norm for men therefore sexual violence would seem inevitiable.
In studies on college students in Canada, Schwartz and DeKeseredy found that men who engaged in sexually violent behaviours actually encouraged their male peers to engage in the sexual, physical or psychological abuse of women(9). Schwartz and DeKeseredy call it proabuse male peer support and found that it was a key determinant of the abuse of women in both dating and marriage(10).
The men who engaged in this abuse were more likely to believe that men have power and control over women in intimate relationships(11) and they provided guidance and advice to influence and encourage other men to also engage in similar abuse(12), which included using physical force to make a girlfriend accede to a demand(13) .
Violence is therefore not only learnt in the home and accepted within our culture but there are men who support and encourage others in the abuse of women. The complexities of this 'why?' would be historically and culturally far reaching.
Picture is by Gary Larson from Myers 'Psychology'
Picture is by Gary Larson from Myers 'Psychology'
Studies in Social Psychology also show that individuals who watch pornographic material are more likely to interpret womens behaviour, which is just friendly as being sexual and they will also view sexual aggression as less serious(14). In a study by Malamuth and Check (1981) men who watched films with some sexual violence stated that they would be more likely to commit rape if they thought they could get away with it than men who had watched non-sexual films(15).
By combining violence with sexual films mens acceptance of aggression against women increases.
Films and television do influence our behaviours. They provide us with social scripts- constructed ways of behaving within our culture- so that when we are in an unfamiliar situation
sometimes we will rely on these constructed scripts to interpret others behaviour and to influence our own(16).
sometimes we will rely on these constructed scripts to interpret others behaviour and to influence our own(16).
(1)The Australian Oxford Dictionary 2004 edited by Bruce Moore 2nd edn Oxford University Press
(2)Trudinger M 2000 Young men, angry language and the language of anger Gecko no. 3 Dulwich Centre Publications p.35
(3)Bevan E & Higgins D 2002 Is domestic violence learned? the contribution of five forms of child maltreatment to men's violence and adjustment Journal of Family Violence vol.17 no.3 p.225
(4)ibid. p. 241
(5)ibid. p. 24
(6)Trudinger as above p.35
(7)Hardy K 2002 To be a healer not a jailer: implications for therapists in moving beyond punishment The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work
2002 Dulwich Centre Publications No.2 http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au/
2002 Dulwich Centre Publications No.2 http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au/
(8)Trudinger as above p.36
(9) Schwartz M & DeKeseredy W 2000 Aggregation bias and woman abuse Journal of Interpersonal Violence vol.15 p.557
(10)ibid. p.557
(11)ibid. p.559
(12)ibid. p.560
(13)ibid. p.559
(13)ibid. p.559
(14)Myers D 2001 Psychology 6th edn. Worth Publishers New York p.673
(15)ibid. p.674
(16)ibid. p.674
(15)ibid. p.674
(16)ibid. p.674
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