Forensic Science: Domestic Violence

FORENSIC PYSCHOLOGY
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Domestic Violence
A forensic psychologist working with a victim of domestic violence should not encourage the victim to leave her abuser because of various reasons. As we know, domestic violence refers to acts of economic, physical, psychological, or sexual violence that can be perpetrated by an intimate partner or a family member. Domestic violence can be as a result of various reasons such as disagreements between the family members, irresponsibility of some family members, some members engaging in alcohol and drug abuse, and physical or mental illness of a family member, among other causes (Bartol and Burton, 2017). Therefore, the forensic psychologist should rather try to solve the issues and problems in the family, causing domestic violence. This is because domestic violence can have an impact on the family that will be outlined below.
Domestic violence can result in single parenting. Single parenting is detrimental to a family (Bartol and Bartol, 2017). Single parenting results in a decreased income for the family. The single parent may be unable to pay for all the family bills, which may leave them starving. Children may also start dropping out of school because the single may be incapable of paying the school fees. Domestic violence may also affect the schedule of the family; this is because the single parent will be working towards achieving the roles of two parents. Therefore, this affects the schedule of everyone in the family as the children may be forced to help where appropriate. Also, domestic violence may instill a sense of loss in the family. In cases where parents have separated, the family tends to feel as losers, especially the children, which can eventually lead to depression. It is also important to note that children may also find difficulties accepting new relationships, for example bonding with the single parent’s new partner.
Therefore, to avoid these consequences of domestic violence, the forensic psychologist should solve the issues that might be resulting in the domestic violence. In cases where alcohol and drug abuse is the cause for domestic violence, the psychologist may seek to advise the affected partner or family member. The psychologist can persuade the abuser to stop doing drugs to avoid minor disagreements resulting in conflicts in the family. In other cases, the person causing the violence may be mentally ill. In this case, the forensic psychologist should advise the family to seek medication for the mentally ill from the doctors. All these and other ways to resolve domestic violence cases assist in making the family remain united.
Battered Woman Syndrome
Battered woman syndrome is a condition that can develop because of an abusive intimate relationship. Women who are in abusive relationships are neither safe nor happy. Battered woman syndrome is a unique pattern of behavior and emotions that a woman develops when she is exposed in an abusive and a ‘toxic’ relationship where she is not happy and safe (Villines, 2018). Women in this kind of relationship experience different types of abuse such as sexual abuse, psychological aggression, stalking, and physical abuse. Sexual abuse involves things, such as verbal sexual harass...