The current study uses a structured survey with a sample of 97 Haitian women who are or have been involved in violent domestic relationships, to examine the impact of the daughters’ levels of differentiation from their mothers, cultural expectations, religious beliefs, and other potential intervening variables that may mediate the decision to stay or leave the abuser. Analyses were conducted to ascertain whether characteristics of the mother-daughter relationship, level of individuation/fusion, culture, and/or religion plays a significant role in the women’s decision making process. It was hypothesized that daughter’s decisions regarding the relationship would be highly influenced by the type of relationship that they have with their mothers, hence, influencing them to remain or leave the perpetrator. Findings from the current study supported the second hypothesis that there would be a significant negative correlation between the degree of differentiation of a daughter from her mother and the likelihood of leaving an abusive relationship. Correlations were performed with the Personal Authority in the Family Systems Questionnaire and the Differentiation of Self Inventory and the findings from the tests revealed that women who obtained higher scores on the DSI were less likely to remain with their abusers. Furthermore, when the PAFS and the DSI were combined, they were a significant predictor of the outcome. Additionally, the hypothesis that women who are highly influenced by cultural factors will be more likely to stay in an abusive relationship than women who are not highly influenced by such factors, was not conclusive. There was no relationship between adhering to cultural beliefs and the decision regarding an abusive relationship. Findings regarding the influence of the women’s religious on their decision regarding the abusive relationship were also inconclusive. The discussion and conclusions focus on the clinical significance of the study’s findings. Implications for treatment with this population, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research are also addressed.

Immediately following the Civil War in 1865, African Americans in Texas faced extremely brutal violence perpetrated by whites. This dissertation examines the racial violence that permeated the state during the period of Presidential Reconstruction and demonstrates that violence was the central component in an overall strategy of reasserting white supremacy. The extremely violent atmosphere that existed in Texas during the period was more than a manifestation of white racism and hatred toward African Americans. Although white Texans used violence to injure, kill, or control individuals, violence also served the larger purpose of creating a climate of fear in order to more easily subjugate and control the entire black community. While physical violence and intimidation of black men was rampant throughout the early years of Reconstruction in the state, it was just one tactic used by whites to reassert racial dominance. Black women and children frequently suffered trauma at the hands of white Texans as well. When whites assaulted or raped black women and girls, they also, intentionally or not, took power and masculinity from black men. Violence against black women and children, thus, served the additional purpose of degrading and emasculating black men, in addition to directly injuring the victims themselves. Violence that was explicitly or implicitly sexual in nature was perpetrated against both black men and women and was an essential means of reasserting racial control in Reconstruction Texas. Beyond injury, this type of violence - including forced nakedness, whipping of the "œbare parts," and castration - feminized and shamed black men, humiliated and degraded black women, and further provoked fear and silence in the black community. Although sexualized violence was just one weapon in the arsenal used by many white Texans, it played a significant role in the terrorization of the larger black community during Reconstruction.

Texte remanié de: Habilitationsschrift--Geistes- und Kultutwissenschaftliche Fakultät--Wien--Universität, 2003. Titre de soutenance : Charismatischer Zorn und ritterliches Mitgefühl. / Bibliogr. p. 256-266.

Diss.--Hannover, 2000. / Bibliogr. p. 365-380.

Thesis--PlanA (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2001. / Thesis advisor: Christopher Pudlinski. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Organizational Communication." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-116). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.) in Interdisciplinary--University of Maine, 2003. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-171).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2003. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 97 p. Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Nancy Ryan-Wenger, College of Nursing. Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-97).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.