Types, Prevalence, and Causes of Domestic Violence Among Selected Couples
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The primary purpose of this study are to:
- Determine the relationship between domestic violence and family relationship among newly wedded couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
- Determine the difference between domestic violence among couples with many years marriage and newly wedded couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos.
- Identify the causes of domestic violence among couples.
- Find out the types of domestic violence among couples in Lagos State.
- Discuss the implications of the problems and findings for marital and family counselling.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework and
- Theoretical Framework
- Empirical Review CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Conflict and Violence
A conflict is a situation in which individuals, groups or countries are involved in serious disagreements or disputes. Conflict is a necessary process in life. Within the individual, there is always a conflict between thoughts, choices and interests, to name a few. This is known as intra-personal conflict. This not only makes decision making difficult, but has also been identified as a major cause of stress. On the other hand, there are interpersonal conflicts between individuals, groups, members of an organization and states. Conflicts can also be constructive or destructive. When conflicts are handled or resolved properly, there will be peace. On the other hand, when resolution and reconciliation fail, conflict escalates into chaos, crisis or war (Ifezulike, 1994). Additionally, Lindsey, (2005) defined conflict as “deviations of interests, goals or priorities between individuals, groups or organizations or failure to meet the demands of a task; Activity or process ”. Duncan (1975) suggested that conflict involves certain types of hostility and bad desires, which can be considered a case of extreme competition. Conflicts are different from competition, although competition can lead to conflict. This suggests that conflicts may occur without any specific reference to competition, as it could occur as a result of breakdown in the mechanism of decision-making. On this view Mbah, (2002), described conflict as whenever two individuals come together, there are bound to be disagreements at time. That’s natural. However, sometimes these differences can grow to enormous proportions where they become detrimental to the involved parties and the environment. When that occurs conflict is present. Fischer defined violence (conflict) as any random or organized act that seeks to determine, delay, or otherwise influence a process through threat, verbal intimidation, hate speech, disinformation, physical assault, forced “protection,” blackmail, destruction of property, or assassination (Fischer 2002). In a similar vein Igbuzor (cited in Aniekwe & Kushie 2011) views it as any act of violence perpetuated in the course of political activities, including pre, during and post electoral process, and may include any of the following acts: thuggery, use of force to disrupt the process (meetings or voting at polling stations) or the use of dangerous weapons to intimidate the processes (voters and other electoral process) or to cause bodily harm or injury to any person connected with processes. However, Fischer (2002 cited in Okwuobi, (2002) highlighted four descriptive categories of conflict and violence that emerge, suggesting a variety of motives, perpetrators, and victims which includes the following: Disgruntled voters against the state arising from perceived unfairness in the election process; The state in conflict with voters who challenges election results or hegemony of the state; Political rivals in conflict with each other in the quest to attain power; and A combination of two or more of the above categories. In the works of Fisher and Igbuzor (cit. Aniekwe & Kushie 2011), the concept of violence was anchored on electoral administration and its anomaly. Consequently, for them, electoral violence can occur at different stages in the election process starting with pre-election period (registration) to post election period (after results). The crucial thing is for the monitors to understand deeply the context and concept of electoral violence for easy and comprehensive reporting of incidents in a way that will capture incidents across the stages without neglecting any stage.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the types, prevalence and causes of domestic violence among selected couples. Selected couples in Mushin Local Government Area Of Lagos State form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of one hundred (100) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which all were returned and validated. For this study a total of 100 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
This chapter of the study is set aside to determine summarized the descriptive analysis done in the precious chapters. It also gives the conclusion and makes some recommendation.
In summary, the purpose of this study was to assess the types, prevalence and causes of domestic violence among selected couples. Specifically the study focused on determining the relationship between domestic violence and family relationship among newly wedded couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, determining the difference between domestic violence among couples with many years marriage and newly wedded couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos identifying the causes of domestic violence among couples finding out the types of domestic violence among couples in Lagos State and, discussing the implications of the problems and findings for marital and family counselling.
In order to carry out this study research questions formulated to guard the investigation. A total of 100 couples in Mushin Local Government Area Of Lagos State, were randomly selected as enrolled participants for the survey. The study was anchored on the theory of ecological perspective of change and development by Wilkinson And Boulding (1973)
CONCLUSION
In the conclusion the study is beyond doubt and abundantly clear that domestic violence has become a cancer in the society.
From results obtained and analyzed, the study reveals that:
- The types of domestic violence include:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse and
- Verbal abuse
- The perceived and real effect of domestic violence include:
- It is deeply traumatizing
- Destroys families
- Death and
- Disability
- The causes of domestic violence among couples include:
- Poverty and unemployment,
- Educational status,
- Cultural factors and
- Relationship retention problem
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation on the basis of findings. The researcher made the following recommendation with the belief that when studied and applied, would help to reduce the incidence of domestic violence among married couples. The researcher recommends that:
- Government should increase public awareness on domestic violence, by sensitizing individuals on their rights and laws guiding these rights
- Social workers should ensure that victims of domestic violence and their children are safe-guided through a programme tagged “Save the children” programme, in which the children’s conditions in marriages rocked by domestic violence are taken care of.
REFERENCES
- Abama, E and K, C. M. A. (2009). “Violence Against Women in Nigeria: How the Millennium Development Goals Addresses the Challenge”. The Journal of Pan African Studies, vol.3 No. 3.
- Abama, E and K, C. M. A. (2009). “Violence Against Women in Nigeria: How the Millennium Development Goals Addresses the Challenge”. The Journal of Pan African Studies, vol.3 No. 3.
- Action on Armed Violence, and the Working Group on Armed Violence (2013), The Violent Road, An Overview of Armed Violence in Nigeria via http://aoav.org.uk/2013/theviolent-road-nigeria-north-east/
- Action on Armed Violence, and the Working Group on Armed Violence (2013), The Violent Road, An Overview of Armed Violence in Nigeria via http://aoav.org.uk/2013/theviolent-road-nigeria-north-east/
- Adams, D. (1988). Treatment models of men who batter. A Profeminist Analysis. In K. Yallo and M. Bograd (Ed) Feminist perspectives on wife abuse (pp 176-200). California: Sage.
- Adams, L. (1987). Wife-beating amongst South African Coloureds: Its impact on the marital relationship. Unpublished Masters dissertation. Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand.