Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Defining Domestic ViolenceDefining Domestic Violence

““Threatening behaviour, violence, or Threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or are are or have been intimate partners or are family members, regardless of gender or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality”sexuality”

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence OLDOLD Umbrella term: Spousal violence; intimate partner Umbrella term: Spousal violence; intimate partner

violence; domestic abuse; wife abuse; spouse violence; domestic abuse; wife abuse; spouse battering; family violencebattering; family violence

Abuse can include:Abuse can include: PhysicalPhysical SexualSexual EmotionalEmotional Financial, economicFinancial, economic

Family ViolenceFamily Violence Nature of domestic violenceNature of domestic violence

Adolescent-to-parent; parent to childAdolescent-to-parent; parent to childSibling-to-siblingSibling-to-siblingSpouse-to-spouseSpouse-to-spouse

PrevalencePrevalenceDepends on definition & measurement: Depends on definition & measurement:

Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)Victimization survey findingsVictimization survey findings

The Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)The Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) Most commonly used scale to measure domestic Most commonly used scale to measure domestic

violence (1979)violence (1979) 11stst reliable & valid scale for measuring family reliable & valid scale for measuring family

violence (verbal aggression & physical violence violence (verbal aggression & physical violence on a continuum)on a continuum) Females engage in minor physical violenceFemales engage in minor physical violence Males engage in more serious physical Males engage in more serious physical violenceviolence

Criticisms - Criticisms - Incidence rates sometimes Incidence rates sometimes generalized from small & unrepresentative samplesgeneralized from small & unrepresentative samples

Extent of Family ViolenceExtent of Family Violence

A pressing social issueA pressing social issue 1993 telephone survey of 12,300 Canadian women 1993 telephone survey of 12,300 Canadian women

indicated 29% had been subjected to violence (Stats indicated 29% had been subjected to violence (Stats Can 1988)Can 1988)

More than 14,000 women & children admitted to More than 14,000 women & children admitted to women’s shelters in BC between April 1, 1999 and women’s shelters in BC between April 1, 1999 and March 31, 2000 (Stats Can, 2001)March 31, 2000 (Stats Can, 2001)

(2002) est. 55,000 women & 45,000 children (under (2002) est. 55,000 women & 45,000 children (under 10) admitted to shelters; 12% returned to spouse10) admitted to shelters; 12% returned to spouse

Statistics Canada Violence Statistics Canada Violence Against Women Survey Against Women Survey (1999)(1999) Used modified CTS to measure physical, Used modified CTS to measure physical,

psychological, and sexual violence in psychological, and sexual violence in intimate relationshipsintimate relationships Both men and women experience Both men and women experience

violenceviolence Women experience more severe formsWomen experience more severe forms Violence against women more likely Violence against women more likely

reported to policereported to police

Types of Relationship Violence Types of Relationship Violence ExperiencedExperienced ((Statistics Canada, 2006aStatistics Canada, 2006a))

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

2006 police-reported data:2006 police-reported data:o 38,000 incidents/ 15% violent incidents38,000 incidents/ 15% violent incidentso 83% of victims female; 17% male83% of victims female; 17% maleo Common assault most frequently reported Common assault most frequently reported o Charges laid by police in ¾ of all police-Charges laid by police in ¾ of all police-

reported incidents reported incidents

Criminal Justice ResponseCriminal Justice Response

Reasons for not reporting??Reasons for not reporting??

Mandatory charging policiesMandatory charging policies give police give police authority to lay charges against an assault authority to lay charges against an assault suspectsuspect

What characterizes an Abuser?What characterizes an Abuser?

Heterogeneous groupHeterogeneous group GenerallyGenerally violent men (assaultive both violent men (assaultive both

inside & outside the home)inside & outside the home) Widely accepted that power needs drives Widely accepted that power needs drives

much offendingmuch offending Classifications from textClassifications from text

Subtypes of batterers Subtypes of batterers

Risk Factors & Domestic ViolenceRisk Factors & Domestic Violence

Psychological characteristicsPsychological characteristicsMore angry (overcontrolled?)More angry (overcontrolled?)Emotional dependence (Jekyll & Hyde type?)Emotional dependence (Jekyll & Hyde type?) InsecureInsecureLow self-esteemLow self-esteemAPD, narcissismAPD, narcissismAnxiety, depression, mood disorders, PTSDAnxiety, depression, mood disorders, PTSD

Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

One’s perspective influences answersOne’s perspective influences answers Issue: perpetrator’s misuse of power, control Issue: perpetrator’s misuse of power, control

& authority& authority

Complexity of studyingComplexity of studying

Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

Biological theories:Biological theories:Biological influences may predisposeBiological influences may predisposeGenes may predispose but do not Genes may predispose but do not

determine behaviourdetermine behaviourNeuropathology, head injury, hormones, Neuropathology, head injury, hormones,

neurotransmittersneurotransmitters

Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

Psychological theories:Psychological theories:Why some do and others don’tWhy some do and others don’tFactors in the individual that lead to an Factors in the individual that lead to an

inclination to commit a violent crimeinclination to commit a violent crimeSocial learning, psychopathology, impulse-Social learning, psychopathology, impulse-

control problems, low self-esteem, attitudes, control problems, low self-esteem, attitudes, personality, attachment…………………….personality, attachment…………………….

Zimbardo, Milgram studiesZimbardo, Milgram studies

Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

Social learning theorySocial learning theory Aggression is acquiredAggression is acquired

Past learning experiencesPast learning experiences Observing or experiencing aggressionObserving or experiencing aggression Own aggression refined through reinforcementOwn aggression refined through reinforcement

Importance of modelsImportance of models Family members, subculture, Family members, subculture, mass media mass media

Cognitive factors especially importantCognitive factors especially important Cognitive scriptsCognitive scripts Attributions Attributions

Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

Feminist theoryFeminist theory Gendered nature of both deviance & controlGendered nature of both deviance & control Patriarchal society (Patriarchal society (broad set of cultural beliefs and broad set of cultural beliefs and

values that support male dominance of woman)values that support male dominance of woman)

Sociological theories: Systems theorySociological theories: Systems theory Family interaction patternsFamily interaction patterns

Interpersonal conflict violence (pushing, shoving) Non-systematic abuse (kicking, hitting, throwing objects) Systematic abuse (beating, choking, knives, guns)

Roles, relationships, & feedback mechanismsRoles, relationships, & feedback mechanisms Social stress & disorganization (conflictual families)Social stress & disorganization (conflictual families)

Theoretical Explanations of Theoretical Explanations of Family ViolenceFamily Violence

Theories underdevelopedTheories underdeveloped Reciprocal interactionism of family dynamics Reciprocal interactionism of family dynamics

criticalcritical Cessation of family violenceCessation of family violence

Official response & community support importantOfficial response & community support important Male-dominating tradition often seen at root of family Male-dominating tradition often seen at root of family

violenceviolence Efforts to change abuser’s attitudinal systemEfforts to change abuser’s attitudinal system

Etiology (causes)Etiology (causes)

Violence doesn’t necessarily beget Violence doesn’t necessarily beget violenceviolence

Adult offenders often claim abuse as Adult offenders often claim abuse as childrenchildrenNo strong documentationNo strong documentation

Cuts across socioeconomic, religious, Cuts across socioeconomic, religious, racial, ethnic linesracial, ethnic lines

Etiology continuedEtiology continued

Alcohol and other drugsAlcohol and other drugsalcohol & drug use exacerbator; not causealcohol & drug use exacerbator; not cause

Male’s perceived loss of powerMale’s perceived loss of power

Is family violence different from general Is family violence different from general violence?violence?

Need to understand interactional dynamicsNeed to understand interactional dynamics

Risk Factors and Domestic Risk Factors and Domestic ViolenceViolence Correlational onlyCorrelational only

Wife working & husband not workingWife working & husband not workingViolence in family of originViolence in family of originFear of abandonmentFear of abandonmentYouthYouthLower SESLower SESUnemploymentUnemploymentPrior arrest for violent crimePrior arrest for violent crimeSubstance abuseSubstance abuse

Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

InstrumentsInstrumentsSARASARA

Designed to assess risk of re-offending in CJSDesigned to assess risk of re-offending in CJS

InterventionsInterventions

Projects, programs, policies & practicesProjects, programs, policies & practices Safe houses for victimsSafe houses for victims Police practicesPolice practices CBTCBT

Predictors of Partner Violence

Interactional; arise from relationship processes such as:Marital conflictCustomary modes of expressing aggressionStresses induced by work

Wife-to-Husband Violence

More common than you think Different reasons for violence against spouses Battered women who kill are more likely to

believe lives in danger

Psychological Effects of Domestic Psychological Effects of Domestic Violence on ChildrenViolence on Children

Risk factors must be consideredRisk factors must be considered Age, nature of violenceAge, nature of violence

Overall, more behavioural and emotional problems Overall, more behavioural and emotional problems (aggression)(aggression)

Both externalized and internalized behavioursBoth externalized and internalized behaviours Numerous research studies demonstrating negative Numerous research studies demonstrating negative

effectseffects Affect on children’s own cognitive structures & attitudes Affect on children’s own cognitive structures & attitudes

is criticalis critical

Effects of Violence on ChildrenEffects of Violence on Children

Feelings of fear, anger, depression, anxious, grief, Feelings of fear, anger, depression, anxious, grief, shame, despair & distrust, aggressionshame, despair & distrust, aggression

Sense of powerlessnessSense of powerlessness Physical reactions: stomach cramps, headaches, Physical reactions: stomach cramps, headaches,

sleeping/eating disorders; bed-wettingsleeping/eating disorders; bed-wetting Slowed developmental capacities (difficulties in school)Slowed developmental capacities (difficulties in school) Substance abuseSubstance abuse Learning that violence is a legitimate means Learning that violence is a legitimate means

for obtaining control of a situation or for for obtaining control of a situation or for resolving conflictresolving conflict

Stalking and Domestic ViolenceStalking and Domestic Violence

Stalking – new form of criminal devianceStalking – new form of criminal deviance Common; associated with gendered abuse & violenceCommon; associated with gendered abuse & violence 1996 – 80% of 4,450 victims women; 88% of stalkers 1996 – 80% of 4,450 victims women; 88% of stalkers

were menwere men ““willful, repeated and malicious following, harassing or willful, repeated and malicious following, harassing or

threatening of another person”threatening of another person” Mostly, Mostly, priorprior intimate relationships intimate relationships

Broad range of behavioursBroad range of behaviours Threats, spying, following, vandalized property, Threats, spying, following, vandalized property,

threatening to kill or killed petsthreatening to kill or killed pets

Stalking BehaviourStalking Behaviour

Stalking victimization is reported by 4% of Stalking victimization is reported by 4% of Canadian women and 2% of men Canadian women and 2% of men (Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 2005)(Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 2005)

Targeted harassment is concerning:Targeted harassment is concerning: Stalking behaviour is a persistent and threatening Stalking behaviour is a persistent and threatening

form of violence that can severely affect the mental form of violence that can severely affect the mental health of victims and those close to themhealth of victims and those close to them

Estimated that 25 – 30% of stalking involves violenceEstimated that 25 – 30% of stalking involves violence

CelebritiesCelebrities