This study examined the perceptions of counsellors who provide group counselling for abusive men regarding what characteristics differentiate program dropouts from program completers. A total of 37 counsellors participated via an online-based or paper-based survey. The respondents rated 44 different client variables from four different categories (demographic, psychological, client-group, and client-therapist) on their impact on a client‟s likelihood to drop out of the program. The results were analyzed using chi square analyses, Mann Whitney U Tests and Kendall‟s tau-b correlations to determine the extent to which these variables were judged to impact dropout and how these results interacted with respondents‟ characteristics including demographic variables as well as experience and training variables. The results confirmed that many of the variables found in previous literature to discriminate between these two groups do operate in this way. Additionally, the results suggest several new sets of variables that could be helpful including batterer typology variables, stages of change variables and stages of group development variables. The implications of the findings are discussed with regards to their application in developing and facilitating group programs for abusive men with a view to identifying and intervening with potential dropout clients such that they are more likely to complete the program. The thesis concludes by discussing future research opportunities in this area and outlining the limitations of the study. / xvii, 174 leaves ; 28 cm

Empirical research in the areas of substance abuse (Beattie & Longabaugh, 1997; Beattie & Longabaugh, 1999; Falkin & Strauss, 2002; Gordon & Zrull, 1991; Humphreys & Noke, 1997; Mohr et al., 2001; Zywiak, Longabaugh & Wirtz, 2002) and general antisocial behavior (Browning, 2002; Capaldi, Dishion, Stoolmiller & Yoerger, 2001; Dishion, Patterson & Griesler, 1994) and a theoretical model of sexual assault perpetration (DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 1993; DeKeseredy, 1990a; DeKeseredy, 1988; Schwartz & DeKeseredy, 1997) highlight the role of peer groups' attitudes and behaviors in shaping those of their members. Intimate partner violence (IPV) among men's parents (Arriaga & Foshee, 2004; Doumas, Margolin & John, 1994; Silverman & Wiliamson, 1997) and peer groups (Abbey, McAuslan, Zawacki, Brown & Messman-Moore, 2010; Clinton, & Buck, 2001; Capaldi et al., 2001; Raghavan, Rajah, Gentile, Collado, & Kavanagh, 2009; Reed, Silverman, Raj, Rothman, Decker, Gottlieb, Molnar, & Miller, 2008; Silverman & Williamson, 1997) is also related to their own perpetration of IPV, specifically. However, existing research is yet to examine the extent to which men participating in batterer intervention programs (BIPs), a common form of treatment for perpetrators of IPV, receive messages about the perpetration of IPV from within their social networks, or whether or how BIP participants contribute to dialogues about abuse within their social networks. The purposes of the current study were to (1) describe the members of BIP participants' social networks and the ways in which they communicate about IPV with BIP participants, and (2) to describe how BIP participants address IPV with the members of their social networks, and the social network members with whom they do so. Focus groups with BIP facilitators and participants were conducted to develop inventories of abuse-relevant behaviors. One hundred and two BIP participants were surveyed to describe the members of their social networks, how the members of their social networks address the perpetration of IPV, and how BIP participants communicate about IPV to the members of their social networks. A series of multilevel models were tested to examine the characteristics of BIP participants' social networks and patterns of communication about abuse therein. An additional focus group provided interpretations of the quantitative findings. Findings reveal that the current sample of BIP participants has social networks that are smaller than those of the general population, and which consist of their current and former partners, friends and roommates, bosses and coworkers, family of origin, children, in-laws, and others. Participants' network members engage in behaviors that convey both pro-abuse and anti-abuse attitudes to BIP participants, participants engage in indirect anti-abuse behaviors with their social network members, and participants are less satisfied with network members who engage in more pro-abuse behaviors. Primary implications of the current study include (1) the understanding of BIP participants as bystanders who actively intervene in abuse-relevant social norms in their social networks; (2) a detailed picture of how and from whom BIP participants receive support for the perpetration of IPV; and (3) the creation of two new behavioral inventories that may be used to explore patterns and effects of abuse relevant communication in greater depth.

The domestic violence movement has had remarkable success illuminating the scope, prevalence and consequences of battering, but has been more limited in its ability to successfully intervene and prevent abuse of women by their intimate male partners. Surprisingly, there has been little research directed at understanding why intervention strategies with perpetrators are only minimally effective. Studies have focused on assessing the degree to which and for whom individual components such as arrest, prosecution and psycho-educational programs for abusive men are successful, but few explorations have attempted to describe limitations and challenges to the domestic violence intervention 'system as a whole'. Employing a systems approach, a process-oriented evaluation of the domestic violence intervention system in Portland, Oregon was conducted. Ten focus groups were facilitated with key stakeholders in the coordinated community response. Participants included police and probation officers, victim advocates, victim/survivors, batterer intervention program providers, and batterer intervention program participants. The focus group discussions were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory and emergent themes were identified. Based on stakeholder testimony, it appears as though seven interacting features may limit the effectiveness of domestic violence intervention strategies with abusive men: 1) attempting to simultaneously punish and rehabilitate perpetrators, 2) dominance of a "one size fits all" approach, 3) insufficient accountability within the system for abusive men, 4) rampant victim blaming, 5) barriers to effective collaboration, 6) confusion created by complex domestic violence dynamics, and 7) reactivity instead of activism and prevention. These and other findings are discussed in light of their capacity to illuminate fundamental tensions associated with relying so heavily on the criminal justice system to intervene in domestic violence (e.g., the contradictions that surface when attempting to protect and empower victims, the difficulty of balancing consistency with an individually tailored response when sanctioning perpetrators). Despite these and other challenges, complete dismissal of the criminal justice system's role in holding abusive men accountable seems unwise. Instead, it will be important for movement activists, practitioners, and researchers to critically reflect upon its limitations and work to redress and refine its use, while simultaneously developing new strategies that engage a wider range of community resources.

In the 1985 "National Family Violence Resurvey'' conducted by Gelles & Straus (1988) one out of every six couples experienced a physical assault during 1985. At this rate, 8.7 million couples experienced at least one assault during the year. Shelter and assistance for the abused wife have been viewed as important and forthcoming. However, spouse abuse will not stop until effective treatment for men, more often the abuser, is offered. In response to the incidence of abuse in the military, services and programs for both the abusers and their wives have been developed. One treatment program for the abuser which was assessable for this study was the Prevention through Anger Control and Education (PACE) treatment program. The purpose of the research was to study the reactions and progress of abusers as they moved through the PACE treatment program. Five subjects participated in the study. Data were collected throughout the course of treatment by interviews and questionnaires which were administered to the abuser, wife, and group facilitator. A follow-up interview was conducted with the subjects one year after treatment to collect post treatment data. Quantitative data were also collected but later used only for descriptive purposes. Findings from the case study method showed that the PACE treatment program may have had limited impact on the abusers. While the outcomes were not strong, some changes in subjects' behavior, feelings, and thinking were evident. Abusers tended to respond with socially acceptable answers and behaviors during treatment. Interview with wives and the group facilitator were helpful in establishing the accuracy of these reports. Subjects reported a cessation of abuse, but it could not be ascertained whether coping strategies learned from the group had made a difference in the relationships because four of the five couples had divorced by the follow-up. However, they reported that the skills learned from the group allowed them to seek a divorce in a non-abusive manner. The abuser with the intact marriage did report utilizing several of the newly learned coping strategies. The abusers did report that the skills learned from the program helped them handle stress: better, decrease their propensity to provocation in other situations, and expected them to help in future relationships. / Ed. D.

The purpose of this action study was to conduct a group psychotherapy for male spouse abusers using TFA Systems™. This treatment method examined the specific thoughts (T), feelings (F), and actions (A) experienced by abusive men in pre-violent situations. Situational specificity was followed throughout the treatment, making it relevant to the individual offender. The presenting problem leading to each subject's arrest was carefully analyzed using TFA assessment methods. Cues of approaching violence were isolated, and described in TFA terms. Subjects also identified personalized high-stress situations prone to violence. Applying TFA methods to these selected situations, they learned individualized and non-violent alternatives, preparing strategies for control. Group process was structured for flexibility, using the TFA Helping Cycle. The evaluation component of this study assessed the immediate outcomes and initial effects of treatment. Data were collected from subjective and objective assessments, using triangulation to strengthen observations. The results of this action study suggest that the TFA assessment methodology effectively described spouse abusers' TFA interactions prior to impulsive violence. Subjects were able to learn and apply the TFA concepts so as to increase pre-violence awareness. Participants in treatment became more thinking oriented in situations of mounting tension, moderating feelings, and actions. TFA treatment responded to the context, thoughts, feelings, and actions of abusive men. The Hutchins Behavior Inventory, an assessment of TFA functioning in specified situations, confirmed changes in abusers' TFA functioning. TFA treatment was shown to be a promising method for intervening in the violence cycle. / Ed. D.

Thesis (M.A.)--The Master's College, 2004. / Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-94).

No description available.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), typically considered in the domestic context, has been shown to have considerable effects on women's employment and health. While the literature has recently grown in this area, very few studies have examined the prevalence of work-related IPV among men. Furthermore, the extant literature on work-related IPV has largely ignored the experience of ethnic minorities, specifically Latinos. Many factors suggest that rates and forms of IPV might be different among other racial and ethnic groups. Some studies that examine IPV among Latinos have sought to understand the role of acculturation and socioeconomic contexts. The purpose of this study was to examine work-related IPV among a sample of men enrolled in batterer intervention programs. In addition, we sought to examine the relationship between acculturation, socioeconomic contexts, and reports of work-related IPV among a subset of male Latinos. Overall, the findings confirm the upper ranges of previous estimates across studies (36% to 75%) of employed victims of IPV and their harassment by abusive partners while at work (Swanberg, Logan, & Macke, 2005; Taylor & Barusch, 2004). Specifically, we found that 60% of the entire sample reported work-related IPV that involved threatening behaviors and physical violence at their partner's job. The findings among Latinos suggest that a positive relationship exists between acculturation and work-related IPV. Specifically, proxy variables of acculturation (e.g., country of birth, language of survey, number of years in the U.S.) were hypothesized to be positively associated with higher levels of acculturation. Consistent with the hypotheses, we found significant relationships in the direction proposed. Lastly, socioeconomic status (e.g., income, education, employment status) was hypothesized to play a moderating role between acculturation and work-related IPV. However, results generally suggest that socioeconomic status (i.e., income, education) did not moderate the relationship between acculturation and work-related IPV. This study makes important contributions to the literature and has implications for employers. The significant rates of work-related IPV found in this study highlight the need to address this problem among employed males as an important step in preventing work-related IPV. Among Latinos, the level of acculturation and factors such as income, employment, and education are important contextual factors that provide a better understanding of IPV in Latino communities (Gryywacz, Rao, Gentry, Marin, & Arcury, 2009).