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Domestic violence is a learned behavior by the abuser. After witnessing patterns of domestic violence from their families, friends, or societal influences, people may develop and repeat the same patterns over time. Remember that domestic violence is never the victim’s fault, no matter what.  Men witnessing intimate partner violence growing up are more likely to abuse their partners. In every instance of domestic violence, a person chooses to commit abusive acts based on their belief system – when they can choose not to.  We do what we know, and we know what we see. That’s how we form everything. If I’ve grown up in a house where behaviors such as expressing anger by punching a wall or yelling or pointing your finger in someone’s face have been normalized – that’s my reality. That’s what I know. Sometimes cultural influences are ingrained with patriarchy – like ‘man of the house.’ It’s tough because they are generalizations we ingrained as a society,” Battering Intervention and Prevention Programs (BIPP) are there to change existing belief systems, and people who have previously learned to abuse others can change their behaviors, but only if they desire to change and are committed to changing in all aspects.