Final answer:
Victims of intimate partner violence often do not report abuse due to considering it a private matter, fear of retaliation, wanting to protect the abuser, and lack of faith in police response. These reasons contribute to the underreporting of more than half of nonfatal IPV cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The issue of underreporting in incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV) is complex and multifaceted. According to research, there are several reasons why victims of abuse might choose not to report their experiences to the authorities. A significant portion of victims consider IPV a private matter, with 22% of females and 39% of males citing this reason. Additionally, fear of retaliation plays a role, with 12% of females and 5% of males expressing concern over potential backlash from reporting abuse. Others seek to protect the abuser, with 14% of females and 16% of males reporting this motivation.
Furthermore, a belief that the police won't take any action dissuades 8% of both females and males from reporting. These factors contribute to the difficulty of obtaining accurate IPV statistics, as more than half of nonfatal IPV incidents are believed to go unreported. The National Criminal Victims Survey highlights these reasons and indicates that societal norms, personal relationships with the abuser, and trust in law enforcement affect reporting rates of IPV.