The Federal Government has released disturbing research which finds dangerous attitudes about violence towards women are deeply entrenched.

It shows women are often blamed for attacks against them, men are excused with phrases like "boys will be boys" and the severity of the violence is played down.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter conceded it would not surprise those working in domestic violence.

But he said it helped to explain where the problem starts so society can work on breaking the cycle.

The research shows while 96 per cent of Australians condemn domestic violence underlying attitudes entrench the problem.

It found blaming the victim was so automatic many people did not realise they were doing it.

When given an example interviewees would question the role of the female with phrases like "it takes two to tango" or "she must have done something wrong".

Young males excused violence saying things like "he just doesn't know when he goes too far", and women justified male aggression by saying a boy was simply "having a bad day".

Interviews revealed high levels of empathy for males with phrases like "boys will be boys" or "it's just a thing teenage boys do".

Mr Porter said the research highlights the challenge for the Government in trying to change attitudes with a $30 million awareness campaign aimed at changing attitudes.

"Government cannot do this alone. This is about attitudinal understanding and change inside schools, in families at sporting events," he said.

Mr Porter said the research confirms concerns he held as a crown prosecutor before entering politics, that there is a "strange masculine passivity towards violence and it sort of pervades all levels of society".

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said domestic violence required leadership and cultural change.

"All disrespect of women does not end up with violence against women, but let's be clear, all violence against women begins with disrespecting women," Mr Turnbull said.

"So much of this is a cultural problem and it requires leadership from mums and dads with their little boys and it requires leadership from prime ministers and the leaders of big corporations."

'Women are never to blame, ever'

The study exposes how common it remains for women to question if violence against them is their fault, but Mr Porter urged women to try to overcome that.

"There just has to be an acceptance ultimately that they are not to blame," he said.

"They have to look as hard as they can into themselves to know the ultimate truth that they are not to blame.

"They are never to blame in these circumstances ever."

Despite the research exposing negative views that fuel or excuse violence against women, Mr Porter said attitudes can change.

He said domestic violence was investigated and prosecuted now when many decades ago people wilfully turned a blind eye.

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