bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When Battered Women Use Violence: Husband-Abuse or Self-Defense?
Authors: Saunders Daniel G.
Published: September 2018

A controversy exists regarding the nature of violence committed by women against their intimate partners. When battered women are violent it is not known if the violence should be labeled mutual combat,” “husband abuse,” or “self-defense.” Following a review of studies comparing the extent of husbands’ and wives’ victimization and some conceptual issues regarding self-defense, data are presented from 52 battered women on their motives for using violence against their partners. The most frequent reason for violence reported by the women was for self-defense. Only one woman reported initiating an attack with severe violence in more than half of her violent acts. Only eight percent of the women reported that nonsevere violence was used to initiate an attack more than half of the time. The concepts of “self-defense” and “fighting back” were significantly and positively correlated; that is, many women saw them as being the same. The women’s self-reports were not contaminated by social desirability response bias. The results are discussed in the context of the need to collect data on relevant explanatory variables in family violence research and the application of a feminist perspective to reduce bias in such research.
Clairvoyance vs. Common Sense: Therapist’s Duty to Warn and Protect
Authors: Sonkin Daniel J.
Published: September 2018

This article addresses the issue of a therapist’s duty to warn and protect victims of domestic violence. In three different cases, California courts have found therapists liable for violent acts perpetrated by clients in their care. Based on the landmark Tarasoff case that mandated the therapist to report threats made by their clients regarding a specific victim, the courts have now extended the therapist’s duty to include the reporting of those clients they assess as dangerous but who have not made specific threats, as well as the protection of unintended victims of violence, such as children. Therapists are concerned that the courts are expecting them to be clairvoyant and that psychologists may not be able to predict dangerousness. This article will discuss these concerns in light of the current state of the art regarding the prediction of dangerousness and its relationship to domestic violence. The author suggests specific clinical interventions for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.
The Therapist’s Duty to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going
Authors: Jay Sonkin Daniel , Ellison Jean E.
Published: September 2018

After ten years of court decisions that have gradually broadened the scope of the psychotherapist’s duty to protect potential victims from violence, California has recently passed legislation that limits liability only to those cases where a patient has made a specific threat to an identifiable victim. Although this legislation has articulated the appropriate clinical response in such situations, it may have created a false sense of security for therapists treating patients who are perpetrators or victims of family violence. Though some perpetrators of violence do make a specific verbal threat, therapists are likely to encounter many more who do not verbalize a threat, but nevertheless pose a serious danger to their family members. This article briefly discusses the recent history of the duty-to-protect issue and the violence prediction literature as they relate to domestic violence. Specific interventions are suggested for clinicians in cases where the violence potential is great but no specific threat is made by the client.
A Scale for Identifying “Stockholm Syndrome” Reactions in Young Dating Women: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity
Authors: Graham Dee L. R. , Rawlings Edna I. , Ihms Kim , Latimer Diane , Foliano Janet , Thompson Alicia , Suttman Kelly , Farrington Mary , Hacker Rachel
Published: September 2018

The factor structure, reliability, and validity of a 49-item scale designed to measure Stockholm Syndrome (also referred to as “traumatic bonding” and “terror bonding”), that is, bonding with an abusive partner, were assessed for college women in heterosexual dating relationships. Factor analysis identified three major factors: Core Stockholm Syndrome, characterized by cognitive distortions and other strategies for coping with abuse; Psychological Damage, marked by depression, low self-esteem, and loss of sense of self; and Love-Dependence, typified by the feeling that one cannot survive without one’s partner’s love. The scale and factors had excellent internal consistency and good test-retest reliabilities. They correlated negatively with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale and positively with Horowitz, Wilner, & Alvarez’ (1979) Impact of Event Scale, Hyler and Rieder’s (1987) Borderline Personality Disorder Scale, Hatfield and Sprecher’s (1986) Passionate Love Scale, and Straus’ (1979) Verbal Aggression and Violence scales of the Conflict Tactics Scales.
The Role of Shame and Guilt in the Intergenerational Transmission of Abusiveness
Authors: Dutton Donald G. , van Ginkel Cynthia , Starzomski Andrew
Published: September 2018

Shame-proneness has been found to be related to anger arousal and a tendency to externalize attributions for one’s own behavior, both common features of men who assault their wives. The present study examined a potential origin of a shame-prone style by analysing reports of shaming experiences by ones’ parents as reported by a population of assaultive males. Significant relationships were found for recollections of shaming actions by parents on adult anger, abusiveness (as reported by the men’s wives), and a constellation of personality variables related to abusiveness in prior research. These associations maintained even after corrections were made for response sets such as social desirability. These shaming actions were largely comprised of recollections of parental punishment that were public, random, or global. The role of shame experiences in disturbances of self-identity and rage is discussed.
Children of Battered Women: Developmental Delays and Behavioral Dysfunction
Authors: Gleason Walter J.
Published: September 2018

The extent of developmental delays and behavioral dysfunction in 47 children living in a Florida battered women’s shelter was determined by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and the Connors Parent and Teacher Rating Scales. The extent of developmental delays and behavioral dysfunction in these child witnesses to family violence was then compared to the prevalence of such delays and dysfunction in normative comparison children. The children of the battered mothers were found to have significantly greater developmental delays and behavioral dysfunction than found in the comparison normative children. There were no differences between sexes or age groups.
Police Involvement in Domestic Violence: The Interactive Effects of Victim Injury, Offender’s History of Violence, and Race
Authors: Bachman Ronet , Coker Ann L.
Published: September 2018

While there is a proliferation of research devoted to ascertaining the efficacy of arrest and other formal sanctions in deterring domestic violence, little research has focused on factors related to the pivotal point at which this formal sanctioning process begins, namely, in a victim’s decision to report her victimization to police. This paper is an attempt to rectify this omission by examining those factors most important in predicting the police-reporting behavior of 1535 female victims of intimate-perpetrated violence (e.g., by husbands and boyfriends) taken from the National Crime Victimization Survey during 1987-1992. In addition to predicting the reporting decision of these victims, models predicting various police responses to a victim’s report were also examined, including police response times, police actions at the scene, and the probability of an arrest being made. A combination of contextual and demographic characteristics affected the probability that incidents would be placed into the realm of formal sanctioning. Black victims, victims who sustained injury as the result of their victimization, and victims who reported that the offender had not victimized them before were more likely to report their victimizations to police. These same factors were also significant predictors of arrest. Police were more likely to make an arrest in incidents in which victims had sustained injuries, when the offender did not have a history of violence, and in incidents which involved Black offenders victimizing Black victims. Implications for the “Battered Woman Syndrome” and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Suicidality in College Women Who Were Sexually and Physically Abused and Physically Punished by Parents
Authors: Bryant Susan L. , Range Lillian M.
Published: September 2018

In order to ascertain if physically abused, sexually abused, physically punished, and nonabused/nonpunished women students reported different levels of suicidality, 182 women completed measures of suicidality, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical punishment. Women who reported sexual abuse were more suicidal than all other groups, and those physically abused were more suicidal than those nonabused/nonpunished. In a multiple regression, sexual abuse accounted for the most variance in suicidality (15%). Apparently women who report sexual or physical abuse, but not ordinary physical punishment alone, are at greatest risk for suicide.
Interpersonal Conflict Which Includes Mistreatment in a University Workplace
Authors: Spratlen Lois P.
Published: September 2018

In order to provide detailed documentation of faculty and staff experiences of perceived mistreatment, this article reports the findings of an institutional survey of mistreatment. From a random sample of 1,585 (11%) of one university’s workforce, 810 (51%) responses were received. Of the total responses, 187 (23%) met criteria used to define cases of perceived workplace mistreatment. Equal proportions of women and men reported incidents of mistreatment. Mistreatment was perceived to come from coworkers as well as superiors. For the sample as a whole, job satisfaction was severely affected by experiences of mistreatment. The highest proportion of reported mistreatment was 38% for professional staff (at-will employees), followed in order by 25% for classified staff (covered by civil service protection), and 11% for faculty. These findings indicate that mistreatment occurs at all levels in institutions of higher education. The negative consequences of mistreatment for individuals in the workplace, as well as for the institution as a whole, are substantial.
Risk Factors for Youth Victimization: Beyond a Lifestyles/Routine Activities Theory Approach
Authors: Finkelhor David , Asdigian Nancy L.
Published: September 2018

Past efforts to understand the risks for youth victimization have primarily utilized concepts from lifestyle or routine activity theory, such as the increased exposure and reduced guardianship that are entailed when youth engage in risky or delinquent behavior. In this article, we argue that other personal characteristics put youth at risk, not through any lifestyle or routine activity mechanism, but by making certain youth more “congruent” with the needs, motives, or reactivities of potential offenders. Three specific types of such characteristics are those that increase the potential victim’s target vulnerability (e.g., physical weakness or psychological distress), target gratifiability (e.g., female gender for the crime of sexual assault), or target antagonism (e.g., behaviors or ethnic or group identities that may spark hostility or resentment). Using data from a national youth survey, we test variables measuring such aspects of target congruence and show that they make a significant contribution over and above lifestyle variables alone in predicting nonfamily, sexual, and parental assault.
Attrition From a Male Batterer Treatment Program: Client-Treatment Congruence and Lifestyle Instability
Authors: Cadsky Oto , Hanson R. K. , Crawford Michael , Lalonde Coralie
Published: September 2018

Although patient compliance is a problem for almost all forms of therapy, treatment programs for male batterers face special concerns. Male batterers are often perceived as coming to therapy only because of the external pressures of courts or intimate partners. In the present study, we examined the rates at which male batterers failed to attend treatment following an initial assessment interview. Of the 526 men recommended for treatment, only 218 (41%) attended a single treatment session, and only 132 (25%) completed the brief (10-week) treatment program. The variables associated with attrition fell into two general categories: (a) those associated with lifestyle instability (e.g., moves, unemployment, youthfulness), and (b) those variables indicating a congruence between the clients’ self-identified problems and the targets of treatment (e.g., self-admitted problems with spousal assault). Suggestions are provided as to how programs could reduce their attrition rates by attending to the issues of client-treatment congruence and lifestyle instability.
Risk and Resilience Among Children Exposed to Family Violence
Authors: Kolbo Jerome R.
Published: September 2018

Research on the relationship between exposure to family violence and functional adaptation in children has been inconsistent and inconclusive. In this study, exposure to family violence was correlated with vulnerability, resilience, and protective factors in a clinical sample of 60 children aged 8 through 11. Exposure was found to be related to children’s self-worth and to behavior problems. However, these relationships varied by gender, support, and type of functioning being measured. Exposure was positively correlated with behavioral problems among girls, and negatively correlated with self-worth among boys. High levels of support protected boys only from the effects of exposure.
Do Social Reactions to Sexual Assault Victims Vary by Support Provider?
Authors: Ullman Sarah E.
Published: September 2018

The present study investigated whether the type of social reaction(s) experienced by sexual assault victims varies according to the type of social support provider told about the assault in a convenience sample of victims (N = 155) completing a mail survey. Both closed-ended data and open-ended written responses were analyzed to determine the types of social reactions victims experienced from a variety of informal and formal support providers. Tangible aid/information support was reported more often from women disclosing to rape crisis centers, police, and physicians, whereas emotional support/validation was commonly reported by those telling rape crisis centers. Being blamed, treated differently, distracted, and discouraged from talking about the assault were more common responses for women telling physicians or police. Analyses exploring whether the impact of social reactions on victim adjustment varied according to support provider type showed that, as hypothesized, emotional support from friends was related to better recovery than emotional support from other support sources. However, contrary to expectation, the impact of victim blame on adjustment did not vary according to type of support provider. Implications for research on social support and clinical treatment of sexual assault victims are discussed.
The Relationship Between Victimization and Cognitive Schemata Among Episodically Homeless, Seriously Mentally Ill Women
Authors: Goodman Lisa A. , Dutton Mary A.
Published: September 2018

This study explored the extent to which specific aspects of violent victimization are associated with cognitive schemata in the context of ongoing, often lifelong, trauma and negative life events. Specifically, we examined the relationships between cognitive schemata (safety, self- and other esteem, intimacy, and trust) and three dimensions of physical and sexual assault histories (recentness, frequency, and variety) among 91 predominantly African American, episodically homeless, seriously mentally ill women. Findings indicated that even in the context of pervasive violence, more frequent, recent, and varied abuse was associated with more negative cognitive schemata. We discuss these findings in the context of research and practice with disenfranchised populations at high risk for violent victimization.
The Prevalence of Sexual Harassment Among Female Family Practice Residents in the United States
Authors: Vukovich M. C.
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual harassment as defined by the AMA among female family practice residents in the United States. Of all 1,802 U.S. FP female resident physicians surveyed, a total of 916, or 51%, completed a survey of which 32% reported unwanted sexual advances, 48% reported use of sexist teaching material, 66% reported favortism based on gender, 36% reported poor evaluation based on gender, 37% reported malicious gossip, 5.3% reported punitive measures based on gender, and 2.2% reported sexual assault during residency. Thirty two percent of respondents reporting sexual harassment experienced negative effects including poor self-esteem, depression, psychological sequelae requiring therapy, and in some cases, transferring training programs. Sexual harassment is a common occurrence among family practice residents during residency training. Further studies are needed to examine the effect of sexual harassment policies instituted by the American Graduate Council on Medical Education on the prevalence of sexual harassment in medical training since the time of this study.
Victimization and Fear of Crime
Authors: Weinrath Michael , Gartrell John
Published: September 2018

Victimization has generally been associated with increased fear of crime. Analysis of two very large victimization surveys completed in the Canadian city of Edmonton, Alberta, explores the ways in which age and gender condition the experience of different types of victimization. While younger women were sensitized by assault (current or prior), older women appeared to be desensitized by similar victimization.
The Cycle of Trauma: Relationship Aggression in Male Vietnam Veterans With Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Byrne Christina A. , Riggs David S.
Published: September 2018

This study examined the association between symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in male Vietnam veterans and their use of aggressive behavior in relationships with intimate female partners. Fifty couples participated in the study. Veterans reported on their PTSD symptoms, and veterans and partners completed measures assessing the veterans’ use of physical, verbal,’ and psychological aggression during the preceding year as well as measures of their own perceptions of problems in the relationship. Results indicated that PTSD symptomatology places veterans at increased risk for perpetrating relationship aggression against their partners. The association between veterans’ PTSD symptoms and their use of aggression in relationships was mediated by relationship problems. Clinical implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The Applicability of the Theory of Planned Behavior to Abusive Men’s Cessation of Violent Behavior
Authors: Tolman Richard M. , Edleson Jeffrey L. , Fendrich Michael
Published: September 2018

This study examined the ability of Ajzen’s (1988; 1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explain men’s cessation of violent behavior. TPB suggests that a man’s intention to abuse his female partner, and therefore his subsequent abusive behavior will be determined by: (1) his evaluation of possible outcomes of abusive behavior (attitudes toward behavior); (2) his perception of the expectations of others around him concerning violence and (3) the degree to which he believes he can control his abusive behavior. Pretest self-report measures from men and follow-up recidivism data based on partner report were available for 176 cases drawn from a previous study conducted by Harrell (1991). Reliable proxy measures for TPB variables (intentions/expectations to use violence, attitudes toward behavior, social norms, perceived behavioral control) were created. Regression analyses testing the TPB model provided modest support for prediction of intention to reabuse and subsequent abusive behavior. Of the TPB variables, perceived control appeared to be most important in understanding batterers’ intentions to abuse and their subsequent abusive behavior. Refinement in measurements and the need for additional modifications to the model are discussed.
Desistance of Husband Aggression in the Early Years of Marriage
Authors: Quigley Brian M. , Leonard Kenneth E.
Published: September 2018

Desistance of husband marital aggression was investigated over a 3-year time span. One hundred and eighty-eight couples who had experienced husband aggression in the first year of marriage were followed to the third year of marriage. Overall 23.9% of these husbands had no violence in years 2 and 3. However, desistance rates differed as a function of the type of violence that occurred in year 1. Husbands who had only one incident of minor physical aggression and no severe violence in year 1 were most likely to desist in years 2 and 3 while those who used severe violence in year 1 were least likely to desist. Subsequent analyses showed that wife’s depression and dissatisfaction with the partner increased from years 1 to 3 when desistance did not occur.
Relationship Factors and Depressive Symptomatology Associated With Mild and Severe Husband-to-Wife Physical Aggression
Authors: Vivian Dina , Malone Jean
Published: September 2018

This study uses a gender-specific approach to investigate the association among relationship factors, depressive symptomatology and husbands’ marital violence in 327 couples who attended a marital therapy clinic. Both spouses’ reports were used to group couples according to husbands’ verbal (VA), mild physical (MA), and severe physical (SA) aggression as measured by the Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979). Frequency of aggression and spouses’ perceptions about their partners’ communication skills during conflict (i.e., use of hostile, verbally aggressive and avoidant conflict styles) were different for all groups. Reports on marital quality, conflict management style, cognitions about marriage, and individual affective state were more negative for both spouses when husbands were severely physically aggressive. Wives in the SA group were most likely to believe that partners cannot change. Discriminant function analysis provided substantial prediction of group membership when husbands were verbally or severely aggressive, but weaker prediction when husbands engaged in mild physical aggression. The limits of current measures of dyadic processes for marital violence research are discussed.
Predicting the Fear of Assault at School and While Going to and From School in an Adolescent Population
Authors: Alvarez Alex , Bachman Ronet
Published: September 2018

Recent research investigating the fear of crime has shown that when crime and behavior-specific measures of fear are utilized, the young are more likely than the elderly to be the most fearful. Research investigating the etiology of fear within adolescent populations, however, remains very limited. Using a sample of over 10,000 junior high and high school students from a supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, this paper examines the factors contributing to students’ fear of assault both at school and while going to and from school. Results indicate that recent victimization experiences, the presence of a violent subculture at the school (e.g., gang presence and attacks on teachers) and availability of drugs/alcohol were related to fear in both contexts. The predictability of fear from individual characteristics, however, was context specific. Contrary to findings from earlier research, it was found that young females were not more fearful than their male counterparts in all contexts. While they were more fearful of an attack while going to and from school, there were no differences in fear levels while at school between males and females after controlling for other environmental and experiential factors. Conclusions largely support the contention that fear is a rational calculation based on objective criteria. Moreover, results underscore the need for more specificity when operationalizing the context and content of fearfulness.
Sexual Coercion in Gay/Lesbian Relationships: Descriptives and Gender Differences
Authors: Waldner-Haugrud Lisa K. , Gratch Linda V.
Published: September 2018

A sample of 162 gay males and 111 lesbians (N = 273) completed a survey measuring the frequency of sexually coercive acts occurring within gay and lesbian relationships. Several hypotheses were proposed to clarify earlier findings and to explore gender differences in the data. Contradicting earlier studies’ findings that lesbians experience sexual coercion at higher rates than gay men, the results of this study suggest lesbians are not more likely than gay men to be classified as victims of sexual coercion. Gay men also were found to experience a significantly higher mean number of coercive experiences. Other analyses specific to the type of coercion experienced and the severity of the sexual coercion outcomes (penetration) revealed no gender differences, however. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Validation of the Keane MMPI-PTSD Scale Against DSM-III-R Criteria in a Sample of Battered Women
Authors: Perrin Sean , Van Hasselt Vincent B. , Hersen Michel
Published: September 2018

The Keane, Malloy, & Fairbank (1984) MMPI-PTSD Scale has proven to be a reliable and valid measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in combat veterans. However, few studies have examined the MMPI-PTSD Scale’s validity in civilian trauma victims, including battered women. In the present study, 46 battered women who completed the MMPI-PTSD Scale were assigned to PTSD-Positive and PTSD-Negative groups based on a structured diagnostic interview and then contrasted on the MMPI-PTSD Scale. Significantly higher scores on the scale were found in the PTSD-Positive group. Also, a cutoff score of 22 on the MMPI-PTSD Scale correctly classified 80.4% of the sample. Correlations between the MMPI-PTSD and DSM-III-R criteria suggest that the scale is moderately sensitive to many of the symptoms particularly those involving intrusion and psychological arousal, comprising the diagnosis of PTSD. This investigation provides further support for the validity of the MMPI-PTSD Scale and its utility in screening battered women for PTSD.
The Psychological Impact of Withholding Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Sinclair Barbara B. , Gold Steven R.
Published: September 2018

Researchers have found equivocal results with respect to whether the disclosure of child sexual abuse is helpful or not. The threat of harm as well as the possibility of being humiliated, not believed, or blamed, render the disclosure of child sexual abuse difficult for some victims. Suppressing of traumatic events has been linked to negative health effects. The current study investigated the relationship between the inability to fully disclose the abuse and subsequent traumatic symptomatology. Questionnaires including the Trauma Symptom Checklist 40, the Child Sexual Experiences Questionnaire, and the Parental Support Scale were completed by 204 victims of child sexual abuse. Multiple regression analyses were performed using traumatic symptomatology as the dependent variable. The extent to which a victim wanted to tell about the abuse but held back from doing so and the severity of the abuse were related to adult symptomatology. Findings suggest that victims enduring more severe abuse are more likely to hold back from fully disclosing the abuse which is associated with more trauma-related symptoms.
Health Care Utilization and History of Trauma Among Women in a Primary Care Setting
Authors: Sansone Randy A. , Wiederman Michael W. , Sansone Lori A.
Published: September 2018

Participants were 150 women seen consecutively by a female family physician in an HMO setting for nonemergent medical care. Each participant completed a questionnaire that explored three areas of trauma. Twelve months after the administration of the questionnaire, medical records of each participant were reviewed for several measures of health care utilization (i.e., number of telephone contacts, physician visits, ongoing prescriptions, acute prescriptions, specialist referrals). Age, education, and current marital status were unrelated to medical utilization. Participants’ acknowledged history of physical and emotional abuse significantly correlated with most measures of health care utilization, whereas sexual abuse generally did not. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Victimization and Perpetration Rates of Violence in Gay and Lesbian Relationships: Gender Issues Explored
Authors: Waldner-Haugrud Lisa K. , Gratch Linda V. , Magruder Brian
Published: September 2018

This study explores gender differences in victimization and perpetration experiences of gays and lesbians in intimate relationships. A sample of 283 gays and lesbians reported on their experiences both as victims and perpetrators of gay/lesbian relationship violence by completing a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, 1980). General results indicate that 47.5% of lesbians and 29.7% of gays have been victimized by a same-sex partner. Further, lesbians reported an overall perpetration rate of 38% compared to 21.8% for gay men. Other findings were as follows: (1) lesbians were more likely to be classified as victims and perpetrators of violence than gay men; (2) lesbians were more likely to report pushing or being pushed than gay men; (3) lesbians reported experiencing a greater number of different victimization and perpetration tactics than gay men; and finally, (4) when items were weighted to create an indicator of severity, no significant differences between lesbians and gay men were found.
Drug Use Predictors of Partner Violence in Opiate-Dependent Women
Authors: Brewer Devon D. , Fleming Charles B. , Haggerty Kevin P. , Catalano Richard F.
Published: September 2018

This paper examines the use of specific drugs as longitudinal predictors of violence between domestic partners in a sample of women in methadone treatment for opiate addiction. Crack cocaine use, use of other forms of cocaine, and tranquilizer use are each modestly to moderately positively associated with partner violence victimization. Women who were heavy users of these drugs were more likely to be hit, slapped, or shoved by their partners than light users or nonusers of these drugs. Three possible explanations of these associations are considered.
Testing a Mediational Model of Sexually Aggressive Behavior in Nonincarcerated Perpetrators
Authors: Ouimette Paige C. , Riggs David
Published: September 2018

This study examined a psychological model of male sexually aggressive behavior toward women. Forty-seven men who reported completing or attempting acts that legally represent rape in most states and 56 nonviolent men completed measures assessing early home environment, attitudes regarding women and relationships, impulsive behaviors, and peers’ characteristics. As predicted, sexually aggressive behavior was associated with exposure to negative childhood experiences with fathers. These experiences included reports of emotionally distant, uncaring fathers and witnessing father-perpetrated domestic violence. The relationship between poorer fathering and sexually aggressive behavior was partially mediated by impulse control problems as a young adult. Although having delinquent peers and endorsements of hostile attitudes toward women and rigid sex-role beliefs, predicted perpetration, contrary to expectations, neither mediated the relationship between poorer fathering and perpetration.
Lifetime Exposure to Interparental Physical and Verbal Aggression and Symptom Expression in College Students
Authors: Blumenthal Deborah R. , Neemann Jennifer , Murphy Christopher M.
Published: September 2018

This study investigated relations between lifetime exposure to interparental aggression and (1) anxiety, depression, and anger; (2) interpersonal problems; and (3) symptoms of trauma, in a sample of young adults. Participants were 326 (219 female, 107 male) undergraduates from an eastern university. Participants reported on their demographic backgrounds, memories of interparental verbal and physical aggression, past experiences of severe stressors (including child physical and sexual abuse and community violence), and recent symptoms. Results demonstrate that exposure to interparental violence is associated with elevations in depression, anxiety, interpersonal problems, and trauma symptoms. Further analyses indicated that interparental verbal aggression predicted all symptom areas and was a stronger predictor than interparental violence. The impact of both forms of aggression was attenuated and in some cases negated by controlling for the effects of other severe stressors.
A Training Program to Improve Domestic Violence Identification and Management in Primary Care: Preliminary Results
Authors: Thompson Robert S. , Meyer Barbara A. , Smith-Dijulio Kathleen , Caplow Madlen P. , Maiuro Roland D. , Thompson Diane C. , Sugg Nancy K. , Rivara Frederick P.
Published: September 2018

Domestic violence as encountered in day-to-day practice is greatly underidentified. It is estimated that only 3% of cases are presently being identified, and practitioners are uncertain of what to do if a case is discovered. In this paper, a training program to improve identification and management of domestic violence (DV) in primary care and the providers’ responses to the program are described. A multimodal training program was undertaken to demonstrate and practice the incorporation of didactic content into practice for the health care teams. Two medical centers from a large staff-model HMO were chosen at random from five volunteering for training. The entire adult health care medical center teams, including physicians, physician assistants, RNs, LPNs, medical assistants, and receptionists, were the recipients of the training. Assessment of provider valuation of the components of the training program was performed by administering a standardized 5-point Likert-scaled questionnaire 9 months after the training. This time interval was chosen because we were interested in lasting program effects. Core didactic content, such as the epidemiology of DV, identification and management of victims and batterers, and legal issues, was highly rated. Delivery of the content through role-playing, start-stop videos and presentations by former victims received lesser but solid support. Follow-up assessment 9 months post training demonstrates solid support for many components of the program: highest for specific information content areas, but strong for techniques and processes. The training program appears to be a promising method to improve provider skills in DV management.
The Impact of Different Forms of Psychological Abuse on Battered Women
Authors: Sackett Leslie A. , Saunders, Daniel G.
Published: September 2018

Battered women receiving either shelter (n = 30) or nonshelter services (n = 30) from a domestic violence agency were interviewed regarding psychological abuse and its aftermath. Four types of abuse were derived from factor analysis: ridiculing of traits, criticizing behavior, ignoring, and jealous control. Sheltered women experienced ridicule and jealous/control more often than nonsheltered women. For the entire sample, ridiculing of traits was rated as the most severe form. Ignoring was the strongest predictor of low self-esteem. Both psychological abuse and physical abuse contributed independently to depression and low self-esteem. However, fear of being abused was uniquely predicted by psychological abuse. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Measuring Emotional Abuse in Dating Relationships as a Multifactorial Construct
Authors: Murphy Christopher M. , Hoover Sharon A.
Published: September 2018

Initial investigations of a multifactorial approach to the measurement of emotional abuse in dating relationships are presented. A set of 54 items was generated to assess 4 rationally derived subscales measuring Restrictive Engulfment, Hostile Withdrawal, Denigration, and Dominance / Intimidation. An exploratory factor analysis on reports of partner behavior by 157 female undergraduate students in dating relationships provided support for the hypothesized subscales. Denigration and Dominance/Intimidation had consistently higher correlations with physical aggression than did the other two forms of emotional abuse. Further evidence for discriminant and convergent validity was apparent in correlations with the circumplex scales of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, and with self-reported attachment variables. The results support the assessment of emotional abuse in dating relationships as a multifactorial construct.
Effects of Men’s Subtle and Overt Psychological Abuse on Low-Income Women
Authors: Marshall Linda L.
Published: September 2018

Asocial influence approach to the psychological abuse of women (Marshall, 1994; 1996) was expanded and tested. Distinctions are made between obvious acts (e.g., verbal aggression, controlling behaviors), overt acts which are easily recognized and described, and subtle acts which are least likely to be recognized as psychologically abusive. Men’s violence and sexual aggression, and overt (dominating acts, indifference, monitoring, discrediting) and subtle (undermining, discounting, isolating) psychological abuse were examined as they related to women’s psychological and emotional state and perceptions of their relationship. Results of regression equations with 834 low-income women in long-term heterosexual relationships are reported. In general, subtle psychological abuse had stronger and more consistent associations with women’s state and relationship perceptions than did their partners’ overt psychological abuse, violence, or sexual aggression. The importance of extending research beyond obvious acts was underscored by findings showing that subtle psychological abuse accounted for a small but significant proportion of the variance in outcome variables even after the effects of violence and sexual aggression (Step 1) and overt psychological abuse (Step 2) were controlled in eight of the nine regression equations. In contrast, when subtle and overt psychological abuse were entered first (in Steps 1 and 2, respectively), violence and sexual aggression (Step 3) made significant contributions in only two of the nine equations.
Court-Involved Battered Women’s Responses to Violence: The Role of Psychological, Physical, and Sexual Abuse
Authors: Dutton Mary A. , Goodman Lisa A. , Bennett Lauren
Published: September 2018

Failure to understand the importance of psychological abuse as a component of domestic violence can result in little appreciation for the complexity of victims’ experience and thus a failure to provide the most effective intervention. This study examined the role of psychological abuse, physical violence, injury, and sexual abuse in predicting court-involved women’s (1) prior attempts to seek help from the justice system and to leave the battering relationship, (2) use of criminal prosecution and civil protection orders, and (3) traumatic stress reactions. At the univariate level, each abuse variable was significantly associated with at least one strategic response and all traumatic responses to violence. Multivariate analyses revealed that strategic responses were largely predicted by injury and physical assault, whereas traumatic responses were mainly predicted by psychological abuse. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the important role of both physical and psychological abuse in shaping women’s responses to domestic violence.
Sexual Coercion History, Calloused Sexual Beliefs and Judgments of Sexual Coercion in a Date Rape Analogue
Authors: Bernat Jeffrey A. , Wilson Amy E. , Calhoun Karen S.
Published: September 2018

This study compared men with and without a history of coercive sexual behavior on their judgments of how far a man should go in using coercion in an audiotaped date rape simulation. Calloused sexual beliefs (CSB) and a “token resistance” manipulation were expected to differentially interact with coercion history. Results showed no effect for “token resistance.” Calloused sexual beliefs interacted with coercion group, such that sexually coercive men high in CSB took significantly longer to stop the date rape interaction than coercive men low in CSB, who did not differ from noncoercive men. These findings support a model of sexual coercion in which a cognitive set consisting of rape-supportive beliefs may serve as a disinhibitor of behavior.
Violent Substance Abusers in Domestic Violence Treatment
Authors: Brown Thomas G. , Werk Annette , Caplan Tom , Seraganian Peter
Published: September 2018

Although substance abuse is frequently encountered in men receiving services in violence treatment settings, systematic study of these ‘dual-problem’ men has lagged. This study had two main objectives: (1) the characterization of psychoactive substance abuse disorders in a naturalistic sample of men in domestic violence treatment; and (2) clarification of the role of substance abuse on the sociodemographic, personality, psychosocial, and abuse characteristics of dual-problem men. Fifty-three adult men who were attending domestic violence treatment were recruited. They were administered the Addiction Severity Index, the Conflicts Tactics Scale, Structured Clinical Diagnostic Interview, the 16PF and the Symptoms Checklist-90. Partners, when available, were asked to provide corroboration. Sixty-three percent of the men had a current diagnosis of psychoactive substance abuse or dependence, while 92.5% had a lifetime diagnosis. Of the former, the majority was diagnosed as multiply dependent on alcohol and other drugs. As the severity of the substance abuse increased, so too did the dangerousness and frequency of abusive behaviors. Moreover, dual-problem men reported more hostility, apprehension, frustration and suspiciousness and past arrests than did their violence-only cohorts as well as a history of multiple (unsuccessful) treatments for substance abuse. These findings suggest that the trend toward multiple drug complaints seen in other clinical milieus is also being confronted in conjugal violence settings. In addition to the greater therapeutic challenge such dual-problem men present, these findings speak to the need to investigate integrated treatment approaches to improve the outlook of men grappling with both conjugal violence and multiple substance abuse problems.
An Analysis of Empirical Estimates of Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration
Authors: Spitzberg Brian H.
Published: September 2018

Estimates of prevalence for several categories of sexual coercion, including rape and attempted rape, were statistically aggregated across 120 studies, involving over 100,000 subjects. According to the data, almost 13% of women and over 3% of men have been raped, and almost 5% of men claim to have perpetrated rape. In contrast, about 25% of women and men claim to have been sexually coerced and to have perpetrated sexual coercion. In general, the mediating variables examined—population type, decade, date of publication, and type of operationalization—were not consistently related to rates of victimization or perpetration. Nevertheless, the extensive variation among study estimates strongly suggests the possibility of systematic sources of variation that have yet to be identified. Further analyses are called for to disentangle such sources.
Secondary Victimization of Rape Victims: Insights From Mental Health Professionals Who Treat Survivors of Violence
Authors: Campbell Rebecca , Raja Sheela
Published: September 2018

Rape victims may turn to the legal, medical, and mental health systems for assistance, but there is a growing body of literature indicating that many survivors are denied help by these agencies. What help victims do receive often leaves them feeling revictimized. These negative experiences have been termed “the second rape” or “secondary victimization.” If indeed secondary victimization occurs, then these issues may be raised in rape survivors’ mental health treatment. In the current study, probability sampling was used to survey a representative sample of licensed mental health professionals about the extent to which they believe rape victims are “re-raped” in their interactions with social system personnel. Most therapists believed that some community professionals engage in harmful behaviors that are detrimental to rape survivors’ psychological well-being. Implications for future research on secondary victimization are discussed.
Coping With Partner Abuse Among Mexican American and Anglo Women: Ethnic and Socioeconomic Influences
Authors: Fernández-Esquer Maria E. , McCloskey Laura Ann
Published: September 2018

This exploratory study examines the influence of ethnic group membership and socioeconomic status on the coping strategies reported by women victims of partner abuse. Ninety-three Mexican American and Anglo women recruited from the general community were interviewed after being screened for the presence of partner abuse. Individual coping tactics reported by the respondents were coded as internal focus or external focus coping strategies. Multiple regression results indicate that only socioeconomic status significantly predicts internal focus coping beyond the contribution of ethnicity.
Risk Factors and Correlates of Dating Violence: The Relevance of Examining Frequency and Severity Levels in a College Sample
Authors: Follingstad Diane R. , Bradley Rebekah G. , Laughlin James E. , Burke Leslie
Published: September 2018

To determine whether categorizing levels of violence along dimensions of frequency and severity would result in informative distinctions among individuals using dating violence, reported use of physical violence, along with variables theorized to be related to use of force in intimate relationships, was assessed in a sample of 617 college students (males = 290; females = 327). When participants’ scores were analyzed by dichotomizing them along the lines of ever versus never using dating violence, numerous past findings were replicated. However, participants using a higher frequency of force were distinguished by needing to control their partner and by less inhibition in expressing their anger. Higher severity of force by an individual was predicted only by a need to control his/her dating partner. Implications for these findings were discussed.