There are many theories used to explain why elder abuse occurs: exchange theory, social learning theory, and political and economic theory, all of which are briefly described below. First, exchange theory describes relationships between people based on existing dependencies – in the case of abuse, this would be a relationship between a victim and an abuser (Brownell, 1998). Exchange theory is a negotiation process between two parties in which relationships are formed through the use of cost-benefit analysis. Additionally, exchange theory was created on the idea that a social interaction is involved between two or more people that involves an exchange of rewards and punishments (Brownell, 1998). This may take the form of a reward becoming a value, such as money, exchanged for goods and services between the caregiver and the older person. Financial abuse is an example of exchange theory because: the abuser wants to use the victim's financial resources. At this point, the victim feels that they have no choice but to continue in a helpless relationship and must depend on the caregiver. This applies to abuse because the needs that occur between a victim and an abuser are based on a value of goods like money. In elder abuse, the abuser takes advantage of the victim's financial assets. In social learning theory, abuse is considered learned through being punished and/or through observations of violence (Woolf, 2003). Social learning theory is based on the belief that violence (or any other social behavior) is a learned pattern of behavior (Brownell, 1998). In other words, people learn by observing the actions of others. Children who are raised in an abusive home or high-crime community...... middle of document ...... studies have shown that elder abuse often takes place in senior living (Dosomething.org, 2014). are more than likely to be victims of abuse and neglect than their male counterparts (Gorbien & Einstein, 2005). This higher risk is partly explained by the fact that older women are stereotyped as being weaker and more fragile than their male counterparts. Older women are more likely to experience physical violence and the majority of victims of sexual abuse are women (Gorbien and Eisenstein, 2005). It is not surprising that in 2003, studies showed that two in three victims of elder abuse (65.7%) were women (National Council on Aging, 2014). Additionally, studies have shown that older women are more likely to live alone, increasing their risk of self-neglect, while older men are more likely to live with others (Gorbien and Eisenstein)., 2005).