Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter

Over the past few weeks, a number of women were gruesomely murdered and physically abused by their partners who accused them of cheating. These men were jealous and angry.

Anger and Power

Family therapist associate of Family Life Ministries, Kevin Bailey, notes that when a man is angry he feels powerless and power is important to men as it is akin to masculinity. He explained that the emotion of jealousy involves feelings of resentment, suspicion and fear. Some men's definition of power is possessiveness and dominance resulting in a feeling that he owns the woman.

He noted that these men did not set out to kill their partner. "The plan was to display power and control and it got out of hand."

Not taught

He further said that how these men were socialised as children had a lot to do with their actions as they were probably not taught how to be angry in a healthy way.

He notes that the situation could also have been worsened by what society thinks of them and the influence of dancehall which glorifies violence.

PMS

He noted that for men power, money and sex are very important to men. "There is trouble when men have no control (over something). You are 'dissing' me, I am going to show you who is in control."

Men also love to be appreciated and admired. Anything that takes that away from him, makes him feel less of a man. Cheating signals that she is not appreciating him. Therefore, his ego is destroyed and he becomes powerless. The woman is seen as the cause so he focuses on her and what she is doing to him.

Element of fear

"Men who beat women where there is suspicions born out of their own insecurities."

False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR)

Bailey notes that in these relationships, communication is usually very poor or absent. "You are lovers but not friends." He added that it's possible this is not the first time these men have been abusive but it's the first time their abuse ended in death.

Self-esteem

The expert said that the solution lies with parents giving their daughters direction for them to have high self esteem. "Women need to be taught to appreciate who they are as human beings." Education gives women some sort of power but their emotional needs are very powerful and when these needs are met (sexual, emotional etc.) they outweigh the consequences.