Study is based on a systems model integrating the personal, social, economic, legal, political, and medical considerations that either support the functioning of or cause stress in a family. Discussion covers current systems of response and ways of preventing violence by strengthening the resources available to families. Until the last decade, family violence, to the extent that it was recognized, was generally considered an unusual problem that occurred mostly under extreme circumstances of family disorganization. Researchers, policymakers, clinicians, and service customers, however, have come to realize that family violence is quite widespread and occurs to some degree in all segments of society. Practitioners in the field of family violence have also come to understand that there are no single-factor theories that explain family violence.
Family violence is a complex issue with a diverse set of causes.
New knowledge has helped broaden the perspective for understanding family violence. The course has been organized to present these issues within a family systems perspective. The course covers child maltreatment, child sexual abuse, spouse abuse, elder abuse, and abuse in special populations. To support your understanding of the systems model and to give you specific examples of the complexities of family violence, each unit in the course guide includes either a case study or a number of vignettes involving family violence. Problemsolving activities related to understanding and working with family members caught in violent relationships are also included.