What is cited as a reason that battering may begin or escalate during pregnancy?

What is cited as a reason that battering may begin or escalate during pregnancy?

• A. The attention is off the abuser, leading to battering to exert power and control.
• B. The pregnancy diverts attention toward the partner and reduces violence.
• C. Prenatal care visits are more frequent, decreasing the risk of abuse.
• D. Violence generally declines as the pregnancy progresses.

Answer: (A)

When attention shifts to the pregnancy and the unborn child, the abuser may feel a loss of control and respond with violence to reassert power. This need to dominate the partner and the changing dynamics around caring for the fetus is a commonly cited reason why battering may begin or escalate during pregnancy. The other ideas—that attention to the partner reduces violence, that more prenatal visits decrease risk, or that violence naturally declines as pregnancy progresses—do not reflect how coercive control can intensify in this period.

When attention shifts to the pregnancy and the unborn child, the abuser may feel a loss of control and respond with violence to reassert power. This need to dominate the partner and the changing dynamics around caring for the fetus is a commonly cited reason why battering may begin or escalate during pregnancy. The other ideas—that attention to the partner reduces violence, that more prenatal visits decrease risk, or that violence naturally declines as pregnancy progresses—do not reflect how coercive control can intensify in this period.