This paper notes recent evidence suggesting that couples characterized by violent interactions respond best to therapy when seen first in individual therapy sessions. Clinicians are then presented with a Gestalt therapy approach to intervening in cases of intimate violence that goes beyond crisis intervention. The focus is on the female's roles in…

This document contains 11 papers from the ninth World Conference of Therapeutic Communities (TCs) that deal with women's issues, family systems, and the TC. Papers include: (1) "Families in the Eighties" (Cecil Williams); (2) "Women, Work & Substance Abuse" (Lois Morris); (3) "The National Federation of Parents"…

Application of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) to the assessment of child abuse is described. The CTS is a brief instrument designed to measure three aspects of parent-to-child behavior: (1) reasoning; (2) psychological aggression; and (3) physical aggression. The psychological and physical aggression indexes are intended to measure the…

While research has identified several factors related to female domestic violence victims, the cross-sectional methodologies used make it difficult to determine whether these factors predispose the individual to victimization. This study used a longitudinal design to assess the predictive power of indices of economic, social, and psychological…

A differentiation between two types of self-blame, behavioral and characterological, has been suggested. Behavioral self-blame is control-related and pertains to attributions made to one's behavior, while characterological self-blame is esteem-related and involves attributions made to one's character. To assess the efficacy of separating the…

Although previous research has attempted to account for the incidence of physical violence between dating partners, little attention has been devoted to the relationship factors that may account for the occurrence of violence between partners. To examine the relationships among violence and dating partners' love and liking, commitment to the…

Many questions about how couples construe violence between intimate partners remain unanswered. In order to examine the "labeling" of violence, attitudes about intimate violence, and victims' reactions to assault, 125 undergraduate students completed a three-part questionnaire, including a Battering Empathy Scale (BES), a section…

Evidence is accumulating that experiences of children within the violent family are fundamental causes of the continuing problem of family and societal violence. To examine attitudes and values as a function of experience with family violence, 114 male undergraduate students completed a questionnaire assessing general demographics, and several…

The shelter for battered women described in this report was established for three purposes: (1) to provide assaulted and battered women and their children refuge from domestic violence; (2) to enable women to identify viable alternatives to life-threatening situations and encourage self-reliance; and (3) to act as an advocate for change within the…

This volume contains the transcripts from the 1978 Congressional hearings from the subcommittee on child and human development. Major topics focus on domestic violence and relevant legislation. Witnesses represented such organizaitons as State Departments of Health, Education and Welfare, the U.S. Senate, Comission on the Status of Women and the…

In addition to emotional, physical, and economic issues, battered women from fundamentalist churches have religious issues that need to be addressed. Clergy may not help because of their legalistic attitudes about marriage and sex roles. Explains teachings of fundamentalist churches, explores how they perpetuate violent relationships, and offers…

Compared client families that included maltreated adolescents with control families. Members of client families were more depressed than members of comparison families. However, both client and comparison adolescents were more depressed and had lower self-esteem than their parents. Discusses the relevance of research findings for theories of…

Reports data on the extent of abuse and neglect (both physical and emotional) in a population of middle-class families. Argues that child abuse and neglect have been studied almost exclusively in working-class communities, particularly socially marginal families. Found emotional neglect predominated over physical aggression because of middle-class…

Among 433 high school seniors, 12 percent were determined to be either polydrug users or abusers. Comparisons between nonpolydrug users and polydrug users on family violence, personality traits, psychological characteristics, and behavior are given. (Author/BL)

Assessed the extent to which postassault situational variables reflecting exposure to attack-similar stimulus appeared to relate to long-term psychological distress of victims. Determined whether a classical conditioning model could adequately describe long-term responses by victims of different forms of assault, including (but not limited to)…