It’s been known for a long time that there’s a strong relationship between alcohol and domestic abuse. In an attempt to understand more about this complicated and tragic interaction, we’re taking a closer look on the blog today.
High Correlation Doesn’t Mean Causation
92% of domestic violence assailants admitted to alcohol use (or the use of other drugs) on the day of the attack in question. Other studies show that there’s anywhere between 60-87% of those who perpetrate domestic violence are under the influence of alcohol at the time. This extraordinarily high correlation causes many of us to worry about alcohol use, and the effect that it has on families and individuals, and children.
However, further studies refute the idea that we automatically jump to: that alcohol causes violence in the home. The truth is, the vast majority of alcohol users do NOT become violent when they drink. And while many assailants are heavy drinkers, the heaviest drinkers of all are usually not violent at all. Although this might seem strange to someone who has seen someone in their life become more aggressive and violent when drinking, it makes sense at the most basic scientific level. After all, alcohol is a depressant. It causes people to become more relaxed, not more energetic.
Why Would Alcohol Use Lead to Domestic Violence?
One of the reason that domestic violence and alcohol are so strongly linked in studies is because they have many common underlying factors. Both have strong links with genetics, learned behavior as a child, denial, and minimization of the problem at hand.
There are a few other reasons that these two issues could be linked. For one thing, alcohol, while it does not cause violence in and of itself, does inhibit executive function in the brain. This impedes our ability to control impulses, plan for the future, and understand long-term consequences. Alcohol also impedes our ability to understand and interpret social signals from others. Instead of properly understanding what “did you take out the trash?” means, alcohol can cause the user to perceive it as more angry or critical. Furthermore, continued alcohol use can impede our ability to correctly read social signals like facial expressions or tone of voice, even when we’re not actually under the influence of the substance.
Furthermore, alcohol dependence can lead to other stresses on family systems that can inflame domestic violence. For example, it can cause financial stress, behavior changes, loss of standing in the family, and shame. All of these can lead to more conflict between individuals, and added stress that can manifest itself in violence.
Alcohol as an Excuse
One of the most common theories about the link between alcohol use and domestic violence is that perpetrators use alcohol use as an excuse for their behavior. After all, we’re socially conditioned to believe that alcohol makes us less responsible for our actions. Society also acknowledges that violence is more understandable and common when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After all, aren’t bar fights a normal and expected risk of any bar or pub? It’s theorized that while alcohol use and domestic violence are separate issues and behaviors, many who have learned violent behavior brace themselves with alcohol in order to excuse or dull the emotional impact of domestic violence.
It’s important to remember that alcohol abuse or addiction, while it is a difficult problem to struggle with, doesn’t excuse violent behavior or criminal activity. If you find yourself in harmful patterns that are hurting your life and your family, give us a call. We have experience in dealing with alcohol addiction and the related situations that can create a harmful cycle that feels impossible to break free from.