The Women's Resource Centre has struck a blow in the war on domestic violence.

For an insight into understanding the problem was presented at a meeting of the group at City Hall last Thursday night.

The group's guest speaker, William Oliver, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Indiana University, addressed the topic, citing its causes, consequences and prevention.

He first defined the term as a pattern of assaultative and coercive behaviour that can be physical attacks, emotional or psychological attacks, and sexual attacks.

He used the term "partner abuse'' as a term that can cover marital relationships as well as dating and homosexual relationships.

Physical aspects of domestic violence can take the form of intimidation, threatening looks, destruction of property, and isolation from friends and family, he said.

"Isolation is a critical aspect of partner abuse and domestic violence,'' Dr.

Oliver pointed out.

Emotional abuse was a little discussed aspect of domestic violence as it involved attacks with words on the victims self worth.

Abusers can attack the victim's attractiveness, their parenting skills, or just belittle them with insults.

"Some victims of domestic violence feel that the emotional abuse is more stinging and biting and consequential than the actual physical acts, because it goes to the heart of the person's sense of identity,'' Dr. Oliver said.

Along with physical and emotional abuse, he noted, there was economical controls -- another form of abuse.

Batterers often engage in economical control by seeking control of all of the family resources, he said. The victim may be forced to ask the abuser for money to buy basic necessities.

There are numerous theories and explanations regarding the causes of domestic violence, he added.

"What I think is one of the most important explanations of domestic violence is that of social learning,'' he pointed out.

Most proponents believe that domestic violence is like any other behaviour in the fact that it is learned. But the good news is that, in the same vein, such behaviour can also be unlearned.

Dr. Oliver said people pattern their behaviour on significant others in their lives such as parents, relatives and friends as well as fictional characters on television and in the movies.

"Basically what we do is model our behaviour -- sometimes or often -- on what we see others do,'' he said. "As we grow in wisdom, we sometimes may choose to pursue a different path. We learn how to be involved in relationships by observing the relationships of others.

"Maintaining relationships is an ever evolving process. I find that as you get older and get more wisdom, you interact within the context of the relationship.'' "You think about the significance of the relationship in a different way.'' However, he pointed out that the ultimate goal of domestic violence was domination of the victim.

Some factors that can spark domestic violence were social stresses, such as an impending divorce or the loss of employment.

"It's important to note that while domestic violence is not limited to any particular racial or economic group, there are a number of studies that show that there is a very high positive correlation between poverty and domestic violence,'' he said.

Some goals on prevention of domestic violence involve community support and participation.

"Domestic violence is a public health problem,'' Dr. Oliver stressed.

He said there need to be more "safe places'' where women can go to receive counselling. The hospitals and clinics can also help women by screening domestic violence victims in the emergency department.

The criminal justice system can assist in domestic violence prevention by training officers to use more effective lines of questioning as well as passing pro-arrest policies -- meaning perpetrators of domestic violence should be arrested.

The mass media can help reduce domestic violence by educating the public through awareness commercials, non-sexist programming, and advertising shelters and services to help battered women.

"Children should be taught a non-violent ethic,'' said Dr. Oliver, adding that they should be taught although anger is normal, they should learn how to manage it.

Inspirational speaker: Dr. William Oliver addresses his audience at Thursday's meeting.