Ask the Expert: Understanding the realities of domestic violence
October 8, 2025 - Brandon Drain
Content Note - mentions of domestic and sexual domestic violence
Domestic violence is one of the most pervasive public health and social issues in the United States—yet it remains deeply misunderstood.
As awareness grows around different forms of abuse, from coercive control to digital harassment, experts emphasize the urgent need for culturally informed prevention, early intervention, and survivor-centered care.
Hyunkag Cho, professor and director of the Ph.D. program in the Michigan State University School of Social Work, studies the patterns, consequences, and prevention of intimate partner and domestic violence. His research explores how race, culture, and systemic barriers shape survivors’ experiences and how social workers and communities can better respond.
In this Q&A, Cho shares insights on common misconceptions, emerging challenges, and how we can all play a role in preventing violence and supporting survivors.
What are the most common misconceptions about domestic violence that you’d like the public to better understand?
Domestic violence (DV) doesn’t happen only to people in bad luck or by bad people, like meeting the wrong people, being in the wrong relationship, or just being stressed out. It can happen to everyone, regardless of their gender, race, age, income, religion, and citizenship.
How has the conversation around domestic violence changed in recent years, and what challenges remain?
A variety of DV forms have been recognized recently in addition to physical and sexual DV. Coercive control is a pattern of acts and behaviors that an abuser uses to take away your freedom and to control your life, which includes continuous monitoring of the partner and control of the partner’s money. The use of technology, such as cell phones and videos, to harass and abuse the partner is also rapidly increasing. It is still challenging to measure DV as many survivors do not report and certain forms of DV are not easy to measure. Racial, ethnic, and gender minorities’ experiences of DV are not studied well.
What role can social workers play in supporting survivors and preventing violence?
Social workers help a variety of people, many of whom may suffer from DV. Social workers need to be aware of signs of DV and associated stigma to identify DV and intervene and/or help as early as possible before it gets serious.
Are there particular risk factors or warning signs people should be aware of?
Controlling behaviors, physical aggression, and sexual coercion can be behavioral warning signs from the abuser. Withdrawal from friends or families and unexplained injuries or absences can be warning signs from the survivor.
What resources are most helpful for survivors, and how can communities make them more accessible?
Hotlines, shelters, legal services, and advocacy programs have been effective in helping survivors. Communities can help by making these resources visible, barrier-free, and integrated into everyday systems, including training teachers, healthcare providers, and employers to recognize DV signs and provide help to survivors.
How does domestic violence intersect with other issues such as housing insecurity, poverty, or child welfare?
DV is not only a private or interpersonal issue but also a structural one, tightly linked with housing, poverty, and child welfare systems. DV is one of the leading causes of homelessness among women and children. Leaving an abusive relationship often means choosing between safety and financial survival. Children who witness DV are at higher risk of emotional, behavioral, and developmental problems.
What can friends, family members, or colleagues do if they suspect someone they know is experiencing abuse?
If they recognize the signs of DV, they can offer non-judgmental support, avoiding blaming. They can listen and validate what survivors share with them. They can connect them to resources, while respecting survivors’ privacy and confidentiality.
For students or professionals entering the social work field, what advice would you give on working with survivors of domestic violence?
Be empathetic, respect survivors’ choices, stay culturally aware, and care for your own well-being.