I. Introduction and Theoretical PerspectiveDomestic violence (DV) is a social problem plaguing the United States (US). Although both men and women experience violence, each year approximately five million women experience some form of intimate partner violence (IPV) (Griffin-Burke, Mahoney, Gielen, McDonnell, & O'Campo, 2009). Additionally, IPV affects all socioeconomic positions and is associated with factors such as alcohol and drug dependence, mental health, and environmental stressors. The relationship between the individual and the environment, that is, how they influence each other, determines an outcome (Green and McDermott, 2010). In other words, one can be the CFO of a billion-dollar company or a custodian of a local high school and still be an abuser due to a combination of factors. Additionally, abusive behavior takes more forms than physical violence, such as psychological, emotional, and financial deprivation. In some circumstances, abusive behavior is even rewarded by the victim out of fear of continued abuse, being killed, or losing custody of a child. The latter situation is probably due to weak social, economic and educational factors. In other words, the victim may feel like they lack social support or lack the education necessary to obtain a job that can support themselves and their children. Yet the ramifications of abusive behavior extend beyond legal action and standard medical care. the perpetrator and the victim respectively. Hutchison (2008), referred to psychologist Albert Bandura's view on social learning, stating that if a child observes a role model individual being rewarded for their behaviors, they will also adopt the same behaviors. According to Stuart (2006), envi...... middle of paper ......ornia: Sage Publications.Marsh, H. (2011). Center for self-research: improving self-concept and facilitating learning. Retrieved from University of Oxford: http://www.self.ox.ac.uk/Miller, WR and Tonigan, S. (1996). Assessing drinkers' motivation for change: The stages of the Readiness for Change and Readiness for Treatment Scale (SOCRATES). Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 10(2), 81-89. Peden, AR, Rayens, MK, Hall, LA and Grant, E. (2005). Testing an intervention to reduce negative thoughts, depressive symptoms, and chronic stressors among low-income single mothers. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 268-274. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2005.00046.xResearch & Education Association. (2005). Super Revue de Sociologie. Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Association. Stuart, S. (2006). Interpersonal psychotherapy: a guide to the basics. Psychiatric annals, 36, 542-550.