However, officials say there has been no direct relationship between defense cuts and the tendency for spousal violence in the military. Officials also believe the number of Air Force spouse abuse cases is low because there exists a higher number of similar cases in civilian communities with the same population. For example, the FBI recorded more than 100,000 rapes and an equal number of vicious spouse abuse cases in the United States last year. While the FBI report is alarming, it doesn't explain the social dynamics of the spouse abuse syndrome. What is clear, however, is the grim reality of violence in contemporary domestic life.
Spouse abuse is a social problem that has long been hidden behind the curtain of domestic privacy.
Still, a beaten spouse cannot wait for the norms of society to change or redefine a relationship as not including the unstated right to hit or use emotional abuse. Assistance in bringing about this redefinition is one of the reasons for Family Advocacy programs in the Air Force. Base Family Advocacy centers are a place to go for information and psychological support, even if there is no immediate plan to bring charges for spouse abuse. Avoiding such help that Family Advocacy can provide is part of the offending spouses psychological advantage because it insulates him or her from shame, criticism and possible charges for their behavior, officials said. Preliminary analyses suggest that working conditions and deployment schedules are more highly related to marital conflict and aggression than once perceived.