Results of a statistical analysis of a study of battered wives in shelters indicated that the wives' economic dependence on their husbands almost always ensured that they would return to their husbands and that respondents who considered the shelters useful had a higher probability of returning to their husbands. (Author)

Presents the findings of a focus group research project with battered women in Tokyo, Japan. Participants' narratives of their experience suggest a web of entrapment, from which women saw little possibility of escape. The article discusses implications for social work practice and research with immigrant battered women, those from Japan in…

Presents results of empirical studies that contradict the popular conception of domestic violence as essentially a masculine form of assaultive behavior. Suggests that the popular view has contributed to men's increasing legal and social defenselessness. Discusses the appropriateness of psychotherapeutic approaches to the problem. (Author/KS)

Describes findings on the use of police services by 300 women residing in a shelter, specifically those relating to victim-abuser characteristics, variables that significantly correlate with the victims' contacting the police, and general patterns of police service use by spousal abuse victims. Draws practice implications for police, social…

Uses feminist perspective and problem of wife abuse to illustrate how ideology affects social policy and direct practice models. Warns that society and social work seek to address problem by developing programs to treat victims rather than abusers. Suggests that social work recommit itself to model that focuses on person-in-environment to avoid…

Reviews literature comparing risk that battered women and men who batter will physically abuse their children. Challenges several tenets of social work practice lore and cautions practitioners about use of psychological tests and profiles to judge child abuse potential and parenting ability. Discusses hazards of mediation and joint custody and…

Describes development, psychometric properties, and applications of the Wife Abuse Inventory (WAI). Preliminary reliability and validity data, based on 50 cases, are presented for this screening device designed to predict which women are at risk of being abused by their spouses. Potential applications of the WAI are suggested. (NRB)

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…

Notes development of techniques to use folk stories as aid in redefining problems faced by battered women, increasing self-esteem, decreasing resistance, and encouraging alternative solutions to difficult situations. Presents case study of use of story in battered women's support group session to illustrate value of folk stories in counseling…

Examines factors associated with wife abuse and describes major components of a small group program designed to help men who batter. These include self-observation, cognitive restructuring, interpersonal skills training, relaxation training, and establishing a small group environment for intervention. (JAC)

Traces changes in social workers' perspectives on the problem of wife abuse. Divides the changes into three time periods: discovering the problem (1976-79); consolidating the perspectives (1980-82); and transforming the problem of wife abuse (1983-84). Concludes increased focus on individual and couple treatment has deflected attention away from…

Examines transnational legal interventions instituted in response to intimate violence and assesses propriety of the criminal model. Using postmodern social work theory and practice, article promotes the idea of a more workable alternative response--a domestic violence commission that gives more power to battered women. (FC)