Final answer:
Common myths about domestic violence victims include them always reporting abuse to authorities, accurate statistics representing the full scope of the problem, and substance abuse being the cause of IPV. These myths can affect the understanding and response to domestic violence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three myths associated with victims of domestic violence include the beliefs that victims will always report abuse, numbing statistics, and the influence of substances on abusers. First, there's a widespread misconception that victims of domestic violence will report the abuse to the authorities, particularly when asked by law enforcement. Studies, however, indicate that 29 percent of victims deny abuse when confronted by police. Second, it's mistakenly believed that the prevalence of abuse can be fully understood through recorded statistics, when in truth, more than half of nonfatal intimate partner violence (IPV) goes unreported. This underreporting makes it difficult to gauge the true scope of domestic violence. Third, there's a myth that alcohol and drugs are the cause of IPV. While these substances might be present in many cases of IPV and can lower inhibitions, they are not the root cause of the abusive behavior.