Teenage Relationship: The Rise of Abusive Dating Behaviour

Abusive dating violence is a serious human rights issue that affects millions of teens worldwide regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or educational background. Violence and abuse in teenage dating relationship have become a real serious which is analysed in the essay. It is the patterns of behaviors in a relationship that are used to gain and maintain power and control over another. An abusive dating relationship is an act of behavioral or physical harm against an individual’s physical, mental, or psychological health. Violence can be different types: Physical violence, Sexual Violence, and Psychological abuse. Physical violence can include hitting, choking, slapping, pushing, spitting, pregnancy abuse, threatening with any weapon or use of a weapon, or death. Sexual violence is any sexual act that makes an attempt to obtain sex or another act that is directed against women’s sexuality. Psychological abuse is abuse where it can destroy a woman’s self-esteem and include isolation, manipulation, humiliation, jealousy, lying, or threats. It can also evoke feelings of being scared, trapped, or isolated.

Intimate Partner Violence in Adolescents: Analysis of Studies

Intimate partner violence in adolescents is an important part of the study as, in addition to the usual effects of abuse, this violence occurs at a critical period in the social and mental development of adolescents. According to the United States public health authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “adolescents and adults are often aware that teens experience dating violence.” Casey, Storer, and Herrenkohl found that “Advising” victims of Teen dating abusive was one of the most commonly mentioned potential bystander responses to dating violence, emerging in 10 of the 12 groups in their research. Also, According to National Intimate Partner and the National Partner, Sexual Violence Survey indicate that nearly 1 in 11 female and approximately 1 in 15 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in 2018. Whereas, about 1 in 9 females and 1 in 36 male high school students report having experienced sexual dating violence in 2019. Based on Women’s Health, “81% of parents surveyed either believed dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it issues”, this is concerning because of the growth of dating abuse in teenage relationships. Parents should know what is right and what is wrong for their kids. Dating violence has advanced through the years by the means of communication technology. A survey conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited stated that “ 10% of teens have been threated physically via e-mail, IM, text messaging, etc.” Some more examples of teen abusive violence discussed by the participants of Teenage Research Unlimited included sexual rumors being spread about a girl via social media, or in school and colleges, and a young man yelling at and physically intimidating his girlfriend at school.

There are several consequences and short-and long-term negative effects of abusive, or violence relationships on a developing teen. Based on the research by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adolescents who are victims of teen dating violence are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, engage in unhealthy behaviors, like using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, exhibit antisocial behaviors, like lying, hitting, bullying, or pushing people away from their life, and think about suicide. Dating violence is a relationship stage for problems in future relationships, including intimate partner violence and sexual violence or victimization throughout life.

According to D’Inverno, Kearns, and Reidy, there are some ways to reduce abusive dating relationships. One of the most important ways is to increase female involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and by increasing women’s financial independence which will reduce women's dependence on potentially abusive partners. Another path D’Inverno et. al also recommend is to reduce household poverty and financial stress, which may lead to reductions in relationship discord. Also, increasing attitudes and beliefs and women as equals, thereby increasing gender equality. Public awareness of advising included telling a victim that the abuse was not okay, telling the victim to leave an abusive partner, trying to figure out what was “wrong” with the victim that would allow him or her to subject themselves to this treatment, or telling the victim not to “take” the behavior from their partner anymore.

Muuss discussed the ecological system, a composition of four socially organized subsystems namely: microsystem, mesosystem, macrosystem, exosystem. Two significant persons who are in a relationship are the example of microsystem whereas the family member of each partner is macrosystem. A family member gets involved in two couples weeding, fights, or some events which makes them a part of the macrosystem.

Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) refers to the range of tasks that are too difficult for an individual to master alone, but that can be mastered with the guidance or assistance of adults or more-skilled peers. Teenagers are very young to know everything about their dating life and maintain their relationship. According to Relationship Smarts PLUS Sexual Risk Avoidance Adaption, “Relationship Smarts PLUS-SRA offers knowledge of what a healthy relationships is and isn’t, as well as insights and skills for handling the early chemistry of attraction and choosing partners wisely, encourage to set boundaries and practice drawing the line of respect at the first sign of disrespect in a relationships'. This is the perfect example of Vygotsky’s ZPD that a teenage could improve their dating relationship with the help of different programs and adults.

Conclusion

Fundamental human need is to have a sense of belonging, feel worthwhile as a person, have close, reliable and predicated relationships in the society. Being in a relationship and respecting each other give the feeling of worthwhile as a person. People usually get attached or get close with their partner and rely on each other which will give the feeling of having a close and reliable relationship. 

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Dating violence prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teendatingviolence/fastfact.html

2. D'Inverno, A. S., Kearns, M. C., & Reidy, D. E. (2017). Intimate partner violence perpetration in college students: The role of gender role conflict, childhood maltreatment, and alcohol use. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32(21), 3303-3325. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515592473

3. Muuss, R. E. (1988). Adolescent behavior and society: A book of readings. McGraw-Hill.

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4. Relationship Smarts PLUS Sexual Risk Avoidance Adaptation. (n.d.). Program description. Retrieved from https://www.becausewecareproject.org/relationship-smarts-plus-sra