The rationale for this study was based on the application of the cycle of domestic violence theory to elder abuse. It examined the effect of history of experienced childhood violence on tolerance, behavioral intentions, and past behaviors of elder abuse toward general and specific elderly targets. The effectiveness of educational interventions for altering tolerance and behavioral intentions of elder abuse was examined. Two hundred and twenty-five undergraduates were assessed for aging knowledge, general aging attitudes, aging anxiety, elder abuse attitudes, and elder abuse intentions and past behaviors. Participants were assigned to a High or Low Experienced Violence group and participated in an educational group or control group. Posttest and one-month followup measures were obtained. No differences were found at pretest between High and Low Violence. Level of Violence did not impact intervention efficacy. Elder abuse education altered attitudes, intentions, and behaviors of elder abuse at posttest significantly more than did aging education or control groups (p < .001), but these effects were no longer significant at followup. Elder abuse attitudes had higher relationships with elder abuse intentions and reported past behaviors than did global aging attitudes or aging anxiety (p < .05). General elderly targets yielded more tolerance, intentions, and reported past behaviors of elder abuse than did specific elderly targets (p < .001). Experienced childhood abuse was unrelated to elder abuse expression yielding no support for the role of cycle of violence in elder abuse. Specificity of target mediated elder abuse attitudes, intentions, and behaviors. Primary prevention interventions which aim to reduce tolerance and intentions of elder abuse should include specific information on elder abuse; aging education is ineffective for this goal.

This study examined the relationship of childhood exposure to violence and adult aggressive behavior. Researchers have studied this relationship and consequences resulting from high violence exposure, but have not examined protective factors that may reduce negative consequences. Likewise, no one had examined the possible protective factors of self-monitoring, concern for appropriateness, and social support. A total of 1,307 college students completed an online survey assessing childhood exposure to violence, adult aggression, social support, and self-monitoring. Despite the lack of significance for the mediation model, social support, concern for appropriateness, and self-monitoring were all significant moderators in the relationship of exposure to violence and adult aggression. Together, childhood exposure to violence, social support, and concern for appropriateness accounted for 33% of the variance in adult aggression. These findings suggest that less childhood exposure to violence, lower concern for appropriateness, and more social support decrease the risk of aggression in college students.

[pt] Realizamos o presente estudo em uma ONG que trabalha com mulheres vítimas de violência domestica, localizada no município de Duque de Caxias, o CDVida-Centro de Defesa da Vida, no período de agosto à dezembro de 2004. O nosso objetivo foi identificar na trajetória de vida dessas mulheres, os motivos que as levaram a permanecer tanto tempo em situação de violência, qual o fato que contribuiu para a quebra do silencio e em que momento elas decidiram procurar ajuda. O levantamento nos arquivos da instituição, do perfil demográfico de 60 mulheres atendidas no primeiro semestre de 2003, nos revelou o grande número de mulheres que permaneciam em situação de violência após longo período de vida em comum. Partindo desse estudo inicial, escolhemos entrevistar algumas mulheres vítimas de violência por parte de seus parceiros íntimos e que ainda se encontravam em atendimento pela equipe técnica do CDVida, objetivando entender os motivos que levaram a permanecer por tanto tempo convivendo com seus parceiros violentos. As informações colhidas nas entrevistas nos possibilitou conhecermos a percepção das mulheres em relação a violência sofrida; as conseqüências da mesma e as dificuldades enfrentadas para romper com a relação. A análise dessas informações nos levou ao entendimento de que a violência doméstica entre parceiros íntimos, é revestida de um caráter muito especial, uma vez que envolve além de laços de intimidade e afeto, na maioria dos casos, a presença dos filhos do casal, que sofrem da mesma maneira que suas mães, as conseqüências da violência. Concluímos ainda a partir dessa análise, que romper com a violência significa romper com a própria dinâmica do seu ciclo que aprisiona e paralisa a mulher. Para romper com esse ciclo, é necessário não só que a mulher encontre apoio para a superação de suas dificuldades individuais , mas também respostas institucionais para que possa exercer plenamente seus direitos enquanto cidadã. / [en] We carried out the present study in an NGO which works women, who are victims of violence in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, the CDVida - Centro de Defesa da Vida ( Center for Protection of life), from Aug to Dec 2004. Our aim was to identify the trajectory of life of these women, the reasons which led them to stay so long in situation of violence, the fact which contributed to breaking the silence, and in which moment they decided to look for help.The data found in the institution files, of a demographic profile of 60 women, trated in the first semester of 2003, revealed the great number of women who remained in situation of violence, after long living together. Starting from this initial study, we chose to interview some women, victimized by their intimate partners, and who were still under treatment by the technical team of CDVida, aiming at understanding the reasons for remaining so long, living with their violent partners. The information colleded from interviews made it possible to know the perception of the women in relation to the violence suffered: the consequences of this, and the hardships found in breaking up the relationship.The analysis of this information led us to understand that domestic violence between intimate partners is characterized in a very special manner, since it involves, besides the ties of intimacy and affection, in most cases, the presence of children of the couple, who suffer in the same way as their mothers, the consequences of violence. Furthermore, we concluded, from this analysis, that ending with violence means ending with the own dynamics of its cycle, which controls and paralyses the woman. To end up this cycle, it is necessary that the woman is not only supported to overcome her individual difficulties, but also find institutional answers in order to carry out thoroughly her rights as citizens.

The aim of this study was to analyze narratives of violence and explore how this relates to one's own violence. By means of the theory of differential associations and social learning theory, the development of violent behavior was understood and interpreted. Through a hermeneutic approach, seven life stories from the Stockholm Life-Course Project, were interpreted, where child maltreatment and own use of violence had occurred. The main results showed that the individuals experienced that the childhood had characterized their lives and that they developed a behavior of violence. The violence has been interpreted for strategic purposes but also of pure instinct. The results were problematized with the previous research. The study's conclusion is that exposure to child maltreatment constitutes a risk factor for developing violent behavior. However, the relationship is complex and no causal statements can be made based on our research method and our sample. / Vårt syfte med denna studie var att med utgångspunkt från narrativ analysmetod analysera berättelser om våldsutsatthet och dess relation till egen våldsutövning. Teorin om differentiella associationer och social inlärningsteori användes för att skapa förståelse för utvecklingen av ett våldsamt beteende. Med ett hermeneutiskt angreppssätt tolkades sju intervjuer från The Stockholm Life-Course Project. Studiens främsta resultat visade att individerna upplevt att barndomen präglat deras liv och att de anammat ett våldsbeteende. När de själva utövat våld beskrivs detta ha utförts strategiskt och målinriktat, men även instinktivt då våldet utförts på ren impuls. Tidigare forskning bidrog till att problematisera resultatet i förhållande till berättelser som strider mot ovanstående narrativ och de teoretiska resonemangen. Studiens slutsats är att utsatthet för våld under barndomen utgör en riskfaktor för att utveckla ett våldsamt beteende. Relationen är dock komplex och inga kausala uttalanden kan göras baserat på vår forskningsmetod och vårt urval.

Dr. Lenore Walker developed battered woman syndrome to address the issue of domestic violence and to give battered women a defense in situations in which they kill their abusive partners when they are not overtly threatening them. Self-defense law is based on male on male combat. Women are less able to protect themselves in an attack by a man, and so they may preemptively attack their sleeping partners to avoid a situation in which they cannot adequately protect themselves. Battered woman syndrome explains why these battered women act in a way that is irrational to a non-battered person. Walker's theory of learned helplessness explains why the woman does not leave the abusive relationship, and the cycle of violence theory explains why she perceives an imminent threat. Battered woman syndrome is problematic in its legal application because of problems with its scientific validity and reliability. It also furthers gender stereotypes and blurs the line between a justification and an excuse defense. While, Dr. Walker's intentions were good, battered woman syndrome is inadequate. Women's difference from men still have to be acknowledged in cases in which battered women kill their husband's, but social agency framework is a more effective way to acknowledge gender differences. This framework takes into account social circumstances that would explain a woman's actions rather than including pathology. This would explain why the woman did not leave an abusive relationship. To avoid the pathology of BWS while explaining why the woman felt an imminent threat, the defense can turn to a pattern of abuse that helps her reasonably recognize when violence is likely.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to understand the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of college women in modern India with regard to intimate partner violence, specifically dating violence. Surveys were collected from 489 undergraduate female participants. Only 99 participants (20%) were or had been in a dating relationship. The participants in this study self reported both perpetrating and receiving violence in these relationships. A significant positive relationship was found between dating violence perpetration and victimization and four risk factors: witnessing and experiencing abuse in one's family of origin, attitudes justifying wife beating, and problem behaviors associated with alcohol use. A significant negative relationship was found between anger management skills and the perpetration and victimization of violence in dating relationships. Finally, even though the rate of dating and alcohol use is low in India, the problem behaviors associated with these phenomena are very similar to those identified in the United States. Although much is known about domestic violence and wife assault in the Indian context, there is almost no information or effort in the direction of prevention and education in the realm of dating violence. While India is advancing technologically, creating new opportunities for its youth, there is no simultaneous effort being made to protect its youth from risks of urbanization and cultural shifts. The young adults of India today are joining the global economy. However, there is no system put in place to educate and nurture their social and cultural evolution. Findings from this study suggest that as the youth open themselves up to the culture of dating and premarital courtship, there needs to be a parallel effort made to educate and train them about healthy relationships. / Master of Science