Provides a practical step-by-step model to guide all family therapists when working with couples involved in marital violence. Encourages therapists to determine whether violence is occurring, select a treatment modality, and either make arrangements to treat or refer to appropriate therapist. Five steps are outlined for use when conjoint couple…

The violence women experience in battering is both physical and psychological. A study in 1980 found that 1 in 10 women was hit, kicked, beaten, punched and terrorized by her husband or partner in Canada. Children living in battered homes may suffer a higher risk of direct physical or sexual abuse and many are neglected. Some progress has been…

Asserts that, as marital violence becomes more of an acknowledged issue, mental health counselors increasingly will be called on to deal with problems created by this situation. Presents current research regarding spouse abuse, as well as case studies and practical list of considerations to be used in treatment of marital violence. (Author/NB)

Describes home-based family therapy as form of family counseling performed within residences of clients. Discusses obstacles to home-based therapy, then presents examples illustrating challenge of providing home-based counseling to religious, abusive families. Also illustrates use of consultation to improve service delivery. (NB)

Family violence is a widespread problem; research has shown multiple factors are associated with family violence. Types of family violence include spouse abuse; elder abuse and neglect; child abuse and neglect; parent abuse; and sibling abuse. There are three types of spouse abuse: physical abuse, sexual violence, and psychological/emotional…

This paper concerns different aspects of four dilemmas of objectivity and bias facing expert witnesses in trials involving violence between intimates: (1) the urge to be correct, clever, and consistent; (2) the tension between being an advocate and being an educator in the courtroom; (3) the influence of experts' life experiences and presumed…

This document provides highlights and recommendations of a conference on battered children and child abuse sponsored by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). In a discussion of the nature of the child abuse problem, the history of child maltreatment is briefly reviewed and…

Rates of sexual assault on women are sufficiently high that women live with a lifelong, pervasive fear of violence. Research has just begun to identify and analyze the health and mental health effects of sexual assault on victims, and studies are investigating the social and individual motivations of perpetrators. This document contains a…

This report focuses on domestic violence victims, most of whom are women victimized by their spouses or ex-spouses, and examines the issue of whether calling the police increases or decreases a victim's chance of being victimized again. It was written as part of an effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics to provide relevant information for the…

Examines how "Journal of Marriage and the Family" has changed over past 50 years. Reviews development of field of family studies in areas of children and youth, sexuality, marital adjustment, divorce, and violence. Assesses progress and prospects of family field in several areas. (Author/NB)

Notes that spouse-abuse families may have service needs that span fields of medical, legal, and social services; law enforcement; and employment. Provides brief overview of multiple service needs of spouse-abuse families and describes framework for developing, organizing, and implementing community-based spouse abuse protection and family…

This booklet explores an issue that has only recently begun to receive widespread public attention: the mistreatment or neglect of elderly people within the home. What is known about mistreatment of the elderly by their families or by persons within their households is discussed in this document. It also explores what can be done about it, both in…

This document reports the findings of a study conducted for the Texas legislature to use in evaluating alternatives for dealing with elder abuse. The described study analyzed experiences with elder abuse of 1,653 Texas professionals in the fields of health and medicine, the judiciary, financial services, law enforcement, and social services. The…

This study investigated maternal emotion socialization in physically maltreating and nonmaltreating mother-child dyads (N = 63 dyads) to examine the relation between maternal support in response to children's emotional displays and children's psychological adjustment (i.e., internalizing and externalizing behavior problems). Child participants…

More and more researchers, evaluators, and policy makers are recognizing that in order to best understand the factors precipitating, supporting, and prohibiting intimate violence against women, we must often gather information directly from battered women themselves. Such data collection, however, is not without its risks to the women involved in…