Domestic violence in the U.S.

Every year approximately 5.3 million women in the U.S. suffer from domestic violence resulting in nearly 2 million injuries and 1,300 deaths. Approximately 10 million children in the U.S. witness domestic violence within their families putting them at risk for developing long-term emotional problems and becoming violent themselves. It is estimated that the annual cost of domestic violence in the U.S. is $4.1 billion. A study of 14 men about to enter a programme for wife-beaters found that two main themes were pre-eminent in their thoughts : they felt a lack of justification for their partner's behaviour towards them and they minimized and justified their violent behaviour towards the victim and other people.

Smith, Marilyn E. - Self-deception among men who are mandated to attend a batterer intervention program Perspectives in Psychiatric Care October 2007 43(4), 193-203