The physical abuse of children is a serious and growing problem. In spite of increasing knowledge and skill in treating physical abuse, many professionals continue to be dissatisfied with the effectiveness of treatment. This study examined the myths and beliefs about abuse and abusers and the theoretical models of cause and treatment that are…

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…

Surveys of married and dating couples find that women assault their male partners at about the same rate as men assault female partners. When assaults serious enough to cause death were examined, it was found that in contrast to the extreme rarity of homicide by women outside the family, women kill their male partners at a rate that approaches the…

Most research on battered women concerns women of working class and middle class backgrounds. This study examined differences between poor and non-poor battered women and ways in which poverty mediates the experience of intimate violence. Subject data were obtained on 57 cases of battered women who killed their abusers between 1978 and 1984.…

This paper discusses domestic violence, examining its epidemiology for the general population and for two Asian American groups. It reviews data from 10 empirical studies on domestic violence among Asian American women. Qualitative studies stress the impact of family ties, family honor, and shame; religious values; fear of the legal system; and…

Modified evaluation planning tools, such as document models, logic models, and program theory models in planning for the evaluation of the coordination of domestic violence services in metropolitan Baltimore, Maryland. Data from a variety of sources (targeted agencies) show that activities of agencies in the coordinated community response are…

A number of factors came together in the 1970s to create a social problem called "battered wives". Then, beginning in 1977, there was an attempt to create a social problem called "battered husbands." So far, such attempts have been unsuccessful. This analysis compares the issue of battered husbands and battered wives to…

Two studies examined racial differences in regard to childhood sexual experiences and the proportion of wife abuse reported by black and white women. The first study examined the childhood sexual experiences of women (N=501) and the relationship of these experiences to their adult functioning. A majority of women (55%) reported having some type of…

There is growing acknowledgement of the association between family violence and alcohol use. A study was conducted to examine the role that abuse plays in the lives of women and to investigate the relationship between alcohol and violence. Data were collected from 35 recovering female alcoholics and 35 nonalcoholic women on their sexual experience…

Although it is estimated that half of all women will experience some form of domestic abuse during their lifetimes, participant recruitment in studies to learn about such abuse is difficult. The first step for the researcher is to develop a collaborative community partnership with domestic violence services. This will provide first-hand knowledge…

More than three million children witness domestic violence each year. School counselors need to understand the dynamics of domestic violence, learn the most effective assessments of violence in the lives of their students, and be familiar with the interventions that can be implemented. External stresses on the family do not appear to influence the…

Although many battered women seek help from their family physicians as outpatients, rates of current and lifetime victimization among outpatient female patients have not been well studied. This study tested two hypotheses regarding whether battered women presented to the clinic in a different manner than did nonbattered women. First, within the…

Incidence rates are critically examined in light of varying definitions of what constitutes elder abuse. It is suggested that the clinician's position of mandatory reporting is an unrealistic response in many cases of elder abuse due to the lack of adequate support services for either the abuser or the elder. Outcome studies are used to support…

The role of social support in moderating the impact of childhood sexual abuse on adult psychological adjustment was examined. Women were drawn from three clinical samples (women in treatment for alcoholism, for being battered, or for mental health treatment) and two nonclinical sources (women arrested for driving while intoxicated and a random…

Research attention on men who batter their female partners has focused on psychological and personality characteristics of the men. However, occupational status, educational attainment, and abuse history may have been confounded with the personality variables studied. This study made within-group and between-group comparisons of batterers and…