Around a third (34%) of those questioned in a Women’s Aid-commissioned poll believe domestic abuse is the result of bad people rather than a reflection of attitudes in society, the domestic abuse survivors’ support charity says.
Chief executive Farah Nazeer added: “While it is true that only abusers are responsible for their actions, effective responses to domestic abuse need to address the tolerance throughout our society which enables them to act.”
Findings included behaviours classed as emotional or psychological abuse, controlling or stalking are perceived as less harmful than others. Women’s Aid said: “This indicates a need to increase understanding of the escalatory nature of domestic abuse and the harm caused by coercive control.”
The charity’s comments are based on an online survey and fieldwork by YouGov which questioned 2,151 British adults.
