The Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) is the most widely used instrument for measuring the tactics used by members of a family in a conflict situation. It is intended to measure the extent to which family members use reasoning, verbal aggression, and physical aggression. Focus is on: (1) bringing together and evaluating criticisms of the CTS so that…

Violence in the family is being increasingly identified as a societal problem that has multiple short- and long-term effects on children. This book focuses on the relationship between different types of family violence and the resulting impact of violence on the child. Chapter One discusses the definition, history, and societal costs of family…

The origin of the term "rule of thumb" is investigated, especially as it relates to legal issues and, in particular, in doctrine concerning the beating of wives. The term's supposed origin as a standard for determining spouse abuse is questioned. (MSE)

Although most of the national concern about violence has focused on major cities, no community is free from violence. Violent acts in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas may not be as severe as in urban areas, yet they exist. The Profiles of Student Life survey of 47,000 students in grades 6-12 included questions about violent behavior. The…

This report reviews studies investigating both the characteristics of abusive families and the efficacy of treatment interventions for abusive parents. The investigation emphasizes variables such as the individual characteristics of the parent, individual characteristics of the child, and family patterns that are related to child abuse. Particular…

Maritally violent families are examined. Two types of violent families are described. Type I families use violence to establish a hierarchy and maintain control over members. In type II families, violence is used to express anger or to react to stress. Both types may cause behavioral problems in the children. (VM)

Discusses how battered women's experiences with their abusive partners may interfere with their abilities to successfully complete career-related decisions and behaviors. Suggests a developmental framework for services, stressing self-efficacy expectations, as a starting point for both service delivery and empirically based research studies.…

Objective: The purpose of this study was to inform the ongoing quest for efficacious treatment of domestically violent women by (a) describing their representation in cases of intimate partner homicide over the period of 1985-1999 in Houston, Texas, and (b) by utilizing a measure known as the spousal sex ratio of killing (SROK), determining…

This paper offers a theoretical framework for understanding girls' experiences of schooling in contemporary Australia, and explores some of the ways in which education perpetuates women's lack of citizenship status. Equality-directed curriculum reforms require of girls that they attempt to transpose themselves from private realm status to a…

Recent research on argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness has examined the influence of these two predispositions on marital/interspousal violence and cross-cultural communication. The line of inquiry regarding intrafamily violence and aggression is beginning to emerge. R. J. Gelles and M. A. Straus have identified two intraindividual…

This paper is a review of current research on the effects of children's exposure to domestic violence in the home in regard to their psychological well-being. Specific areas of focus include studies that examine general effects of witnessing domestic violence, the presence of trauma-like and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, potential…

This book presents articles regarding communication in a variety of contexts. Articles are: (1) "Musings on Language and Communication" (C. A. Bonilla); (2) "How Do Infants Learn to Speak?" (K. Lauderdale and J. L. Roberson); (3) "Language, Learning, and the Brain, Any Questions?" (K. Lauderdale, B. J. Somera Mace; T.…

In order to identify causes of spousal abuse, current research efforts have attempted to reconstruct the communicative components of physically aggressive encounters within the family. An interactionist model of intrafamily violence, proposed by D. A. Infante, suggests that the interaction of personal, situational, and societal conditions may lead…

This publication presents papers from a 1982 child sexual abuse conference sponsored by the Colorado State Department of Social Services, designed to identify major issues and trends and to stimulate the exchange of perspectives and practices among persons concerned about preventing and treating child sexual abuse. The first section of the…

This quarterly publication, issued by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), contains articles dealing with family violence and alcohol abuse, children of alcoholic parents, training programs for counselors, and confidentiality of client records. The three articles on alcohol abuse suggest that: (1) there is a clear…