Domestic violence can start when one partner feels the need to control another, a US-Cambodian social worker in Calfironia said recently.

“Abusers may feel this need to control their partner because of low self-esteem, extreme jealous, difficulties regulating anger and other strong emotion, or when the y feel inferior to their partners’ educational and socio-economic background,” said Om Reaksmei, a case manager for domestic violence in California. “Some men with very traditional beliefs may think they have the right to control women, and that women aren’t equal to men.”

Domination can take the form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse, she said.

Studies suggest that violent behavior often is caused by an interaction of situational and individual factors. That means that abusers learn violent behavior from their family, people in their community and other cultural influences as they grow up. They may have seen violence often, or they may have been victims themselves.

Sony Pream, program coordinator said: “Children who witness or are the victims of violence may learn to believe that violence is a reasonable way to resolve conflict between people, the painful world of the abused child-turned-abuser.”

“Boys who learn that women are not to be valued or respected and who see violence directed against women are more likely to abuse women when they grow up,” Om Reaksmei said. “Girls who witness domestic violence in their families of origin are more likely to be victimized by their own husbands.”