Profile and local perceptions regarding domestic violence in Bulgaria

Abstract

Domestic violence, regarded as a prevalent matter of public health, encompasses actions employed by an individual within a relationship to manipulate the other party. Although it has garnered considerable attention, the prevalence of domestic violence exhibits notable disparities across distinct regions within a nation, thereby indicating the impact of diverse socio-economic, cultural, and political elements. This study delves further into the available evidence concerning regional discrepancies in domestic violence rates, providing valuable insights into the factors that contribute to this phenomenon and its implications for policy formulation in Bulgaria. With the method of the survey and the conduct of focus groups, the perception of violence and the local characteristics were brought out. The quantitative research included 2800 respondents (100 from each administrative region of Bulgaria), and the qualitative included 700 respondents, who were in 14 predetermined culturally distinct regions. The main interest of that paper is how domestic violence looks in the perceptions of Bulgarians in different regions and what domestic violence looks like in Bulgaria. The main hypothesis posits that individuals’ attitudes towards violent relationships are greatly influenced by their personal experiences with violence. We suggest that societal norms and stereotypes surrounding violence play a significant role in fostering “positive attitudes” towards aggressive behaviors.