Essay Example on Domestic Violence

Sociologists are especially interested in how their study helps deconstruct the matter of domestic violence, using their knowledge to shed light on social factors and issues that have occurred since the beginning of time. Thus, the idea of the role someone's social status plays in creating an abuser, victim and bystander as well as to see how the structure of social life plays in patterns of intimate violence and societal reaction to it. The delicate structure of marriage in an unsteady world affects the incidence of domestic violence; indeed, they find that the more patriarchal the structure, the domestic violence. Alternatively, they might look at how the institutional reaction to domestic violence affects it. For example, in the 1970s, the women's movement changed societal perceptions of domestic violence from an individual problem to a societal problem that needed to be addressed institutionally. That movement led to the opening of the first women's shelter in Minneapolis in 1970 and eventually established thousands of shelters throughout the country. Sociologists have studied this movement and also demonstrated that access to the support services provided by shelters led first to a decrease in murders of men by their intimate female partners (by women who felt that their only escape was to kill their abuser), and later to a sharp decline in murders of women by their male intimate partners (as women were able to escape). Now "only" about 1000 women are killed by their intimate partners each year in the U.S. Observations made by social psychologist Dr. Michael P Johnson determined that the reasoning for domestic abuse varies these being; some rooted in men's (and some women's) determination to control their partner (intimate terrorism), others rooted in problems that lead to conflicts that escalate to verbal abuse and ultimately to violence (situational couple violence). The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial reveals many social phononimons connected to domestic abuse, as, in the beginning, the whole blame was pushed on Jonny, even though the world had no evidence, and this is only because Amber Heard is a female and Jonny, an older male, thus painting the picture that only women can be abuse. However, an unsuspected social twist emerged as the trial shed light on the situation, and the "justice for Jonny movement" began. Jonny Depp winning the trial on all counts is surprising, but sociologists can explain society's change in opinion. As more people that grew up in a society-like group that of which loved watching Jonny movies heard about the situation, the more publicity arose; this can poes the question of is Jonny's fanbase a factor in him winning over amber, or did the people see past Ambers statements of Jonny's alleged abuse. This connects directly to socialization and gender. Comte's theory of positivism can also be used to explain domestic violence further as, according to it, different societies have ways of working. It can help identify why abuse is determined differently in different cultures; men hold an instrumental position in society while women are expected to fill expressive roles. On a macro scale and micro as well, male culture is presented to us as the need to be tough and grow up. This is what boys see, so it does not come as a surprise when a group of men may be aware of and encourage the domestic abuse of another. The structural-functionalist theory holds that this arrangement works well to benefit all of society when the gendered roles are maintained. Furthermore, some men abusers believe they must keep women 'in line.' This is how the world has functioned for all the time humanity has been reported to live here. Similarly, the Stanford prisoner experiment demonstrated the dangers of power and its connection to physical and psychological violence, even in those you would never expect to be capable of such things. Similarly, the Stanford prisoner experiment demonstrated the dangers of power and the connection it can have to physical and psychological violence, even in those you would never expect to be capable of such things. The different reactions of the 'prisoners' to the lack of power and the counter-reaction from the guards can help explain why it is very difficult to seek help. To illustrate, when the prisoners retaliated hostility, trying to fight back, that would increase the guard's violence. Other men isolated themselves and even the most intelligent extroverted men went into a turtle shell-like state, as some victims often resorted to 'hiding' from the apex predator.