Family, Culture and Community

• The environment in which a child grows up teaches him about violence. A child learns about the roles of men and women from his family, culture and community. Violent behavior and the justification of violent behaviors are learned at home as this is the first place where people learn how to deal with stress and frustration. Children who grow up with violence are more likely to become abusers or victims of abuse. Abusive spouses typically experienced or witnessed violence as children. A child's family, culture and community teach them how to view the opposite sex. Boys who grow up learning that women are not valued or respected are more likely to become abusive husbands.
  
  

Drugs and Alcohol

• Drugs and alcohol can create a hostile environment. A spouse who has anger issues only sees those issues multiply with the addition of behavior and mind altering chemicals or substances. Although drugs and alcohol use cannot be directly linked to domestic violence in a cause and effect relationship, an already violent spouse is more likely to become abusive when under the influence or drugs and alcohol. An abusive spouse has less control over her violent impulses when under the influence.
  
  

Poverty

• Partners who are abusive toward their spouse may feel inferior due to their socioeconomic or education background. Living in poverty is stressful, leading violent spouses to act out. Without access to the proper coping resources, some people turn to violence. "The association between low income and family violence indicates that an important factor in violence is inadequate financial resources," according to Jrank.org. A spouse may use violence expressively or instrumentally as a way to cope with stressful events. If the dominant spouse has little education as a result of poverty, and their job is low in income and prestige, they may resort to violence as a way to maintain their dominance.
  
  

Cycle of Abuse

• Environmental factors also play a contributing role in the cycle of abuse. Without the proper childcare, income or employment, an abused spouse feels helpless and unable to leave her abuser. The abusive spouse typically makes his victim cut ties with friends, family members and neighbors who might interfere. An isolated environment can lead to continued abuse, as the abused spouse has no one to turn to for help. Access to community resources, such as legal counsel, shelters, social services and counselors, play a contributing role in a spouse's strength to leave her abuser.