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Despite the growing recognition of the prevalence of domestic violence worldwide, there is an increasing number of women reporting abuse, and there are those who have died at the hands of their abusers. Many of these domestic violence situations involve children who grow up carrying the physical and/or emotional scars of abuse into adulthood, which also has negative implications for their social well-being. This study adopts a qualitative approach to analysing emerging themes relating to the experiences of eight adult participants (four men and four women) who have lived in domestically violent homes during their childhood. The study deals with definitions of abuse, the social, physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioural and psychological effects of abuse and identifies the social consequences of growing up in a violent home. With reference to the research interviews, it is the researcher’s finding that if there is violence in the home, children’s socialisation will be impaired. The results of the study support the hypothesis that the socialisation of adults and their ability to form healthy relationships are hindered by being exposed to domestic violence during childhood. In terms of the goals of intervention, the basic principle is that children need to be provided with a safe environment, appropriate discipline and a secure relationship with an attentive caregiver. The ultimate goal of intervention is to prevent further harm and promote recovery. Socio-educational goals include being taught to communicate and settle differences without the use of violence, to promote the development of well-adjusted social beings. / Educational Foundations / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)

The focus of this hermeneutic phenomenological, qualitative study was to gather an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of male batterers participating in a standardized Duluth-model batterers' treatment group. The study had three main goals: (a) to understand the experience of male batterers participating in a standardized male batterers' treatment program, (b) to improve the treatment being provided to male batterers, and (c) to improve services to those impacted by domestic violence. Results from previous studies indicated that treatment for male batterers is ineffective and inconsistent and that the treatment provided, regardless of framework or modality, has little or no effect on recidivism. This study advances understanding of male-batterer treatment by exploring treatment from the perspective of those who receive it. The study included 9 men currently participating in a Duluth model batterer's treatment program in Minot, North Dakota. From the study results, 3 overall themes emerged: (a) overall group experience, (b) facilitators, and (c) Duluth model. Results indicated that the current delivery of the treatment is not effective for batterers. Findings suggested that the facilitators played an essential role in the treatment program. Findings further suggested that participants believed the Duluth model could be an effective treatment modality for batterers. Study findings may inform a more responsive and comprehensive treatment modality for male batterers. Such an intervention may improve service delivery for both batterers and victims as well as improve recidivism. These changes may result in positive social change for not only families caught in the cycle of violence but also for every sector of society.

Despite the growing recognition of the prevalence of domestic violence worldwide, there is an increasing number of women reporting abuse, and there are those who have died at the hands of their abusers. Many of these domestic violence situations involve children who grow up carrying the physical and/or emotional scars of abuse into adulthood, which also has negative implications for their social well-being. This study adopts a qualitative approach to analysing emerging themes relating to the experiences of eight adult participants (four men and four women) who have lived in domestically violent homes during their childhood. The study deals with definitions of abuse, the social, physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioural and psychological effects of abuse and identifies the social consequences of growing up in a violent home. With reference to the research interviews, it is the researcher’s finding that if there is violence in the home, children’s socialisation will be impaired. The results of the study support the hypothesis that the socialisation of adults and their ability to form healthy relationships are hindered by being exposed to domestic violence during childhood. In terms of the goals of intervention, the basic principle is that children need to be provided with a safe environment, appropriate discipline and a secure relationship with an attentive caregiver. The ultimate goal of intervention is to prevent further harm and promote recovery. Socio-educational goals include being taught to communicate and settle differences without the use of violence, to promote the development of well-adjusted social beings. / Educational Foundations / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)

Using a Cox proportional hazards regression model, this dissertation explores three factors currently not addressed in the literature on men who batter women and who are court ordered to participate in a battering intervention program. These factors are the cumulative effects of civil and criminal legal sanctions (dose-response of sanctions) for domestic violence related offenses on recidivism, reduced opportunities to recidivate, and whether the number of legal sanctions imposed has an effect on how long a man maintains his non-recidivism status. Because one domestic violence case may involve multiple sanctions, this study uses the Legal Sanction Dose-Response Index to gauge the cumulative impact of civil and criminal sanctions upon recidivism of domestic violence. The Cox proportional hazards model indicates that the risk of recidivism is 45% lower for men who experienced two legal sanctions (typically arrest and probation) in response to the index case, relative to men who experienced one legal sanction (typically civil protective order). In other words, those with two legal sanctions are able to maintain their non-recidivism status longer relative to those with one sanction. Men with prior criminal court involvement for domestic violence related offenses are more likely to recidivate. Additionally, rather than incarceration reducing opportunities to recidivate, this study finds that incarceration for any offenses committed during the follow-up period is a predictor of recidivism of domestic violence related offenses. It is possible that, rather than incarceration reducing opportunities, recidivists are persistent and use whatever opportunities are available to them to commit domestic violence, despite legal sanctions.

No description available.

Les études typologiques sur les conjoints violents ont mis en évidence qu’il n’existe pas un profil unique de conjoints violents et que certaines psychopathologies peuvent expliquer le passage à l’acte (ex. : caractéristiques associées à un trouble de la personnalité, abus de substances, dépression, etc.). Toutefois, il existe un manque de connaissance concernant le profil psychopathologique et des traits de personnalité des conjoints qui agressent sexuellement leur partenaire. Ainsi, cette étude a pour objectif de classifier des conjoints violents à partir de leurs psychopathologies et traits de personnalité (MCMI-III et NÉO-PI R) afin de vérifier s’il existe une concordance entre les profils obtenus entre, d’une part, une approche dimensionnelle et, d’autre part, une approche catégorielle. Dans un second temps, cette étude a pour objectif de distinguer les groupes de conjoints violents en fonction : du type de violence commise, soit sexuelle et/ou physique ; de leur niveau d’hostilité envers les femmes ; de leurs stratégies de résolution de conflit en contexte conjugal ; de leurs stratégies d’adaptation face à des situations stressantes ; et de leurs croyances sur le viol. Pour ce faire, 121 hommes ayant été condamnés pour avoir commis au moins une forme de violence conjugale ont été rencontrés en entrevues et ont complété des questionnaires. Parmi eux, 21 ont commis au moins une violence sexuelle et 100 ont commis au moins une forme de violence physique et/ou psychologique. En ce qui concerne l’analyses de classification (two-step cluster anlysis) réalisé à partir de données obtenues à l’aide du MCMI-III, elle a permis d’identifier trois groupes, soit le sadique/antisocial, le très pathologique et le non pathologique. L’analyse de classification à partir de données obtenues à l’aide du NÉO PI R a permis d’identifier trois groupes présentent certaines similitudes avec les trois groupes de notre première classification, soit celle obtenu en fonction du MCMI-III. En effet, l’hostile présente aussi des caractéristiques associées au trouble de la personnalité sadique et antisociale. Le névrosé est caractérisé par la présence de diverses psychopathologies et le contrôlant est caractérisé par une absence de caractéristiques associées à un trouble de la personnalité et autres trouble mentaux. / Studies on abusive spouses have shown that there are different factors that predispose a man to become violent (sexual, physical, psychological). Indeed, compared to non-violent partners, violent partners present more psychopathologies (ex.: personality desorders, anxiety, etc). Furthermore, the different typologies of violent spouses have shown that there is no single profile of violent spouses. The majority of studies have found that antisocial and borderline personality disorders are significantly associated with the perpetration of violence in intimate relationships. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the psychopathological profile of spouses who sexually assault their partners. This study aims to: (1) classify (two step cluster) abusive spouses on the basis of their psychopathological profile; and (2) to compare the psychopathological characteristics (e.g., substance abuse) and types of violence committed (e.g., physical or sexual) in the profiles. To do this, 121 men who had been convicted of committing at least one form of spousal violence were interviewed and completed questionnaires (MCMI-III NÉO PI-R, CTS2, CISS, Rape Myth Scale, Hostility Toward Women Scale). Among them, 21 had committed at least one sexual violence and 100 had committed at least one form of physical and/or psychological violence. The two-step cluster anlysis of the MCMI-III data identified three groups: sadistic/antisocial, highly pathological and non-pathological. The classification analysis based on data obtained using the NEO PI R identified three groups with certain similarities to the three groups in the first classification (MCMI-III) : the hostile, which presents characteristics associated with sadistic and antisocial personality disorder, the neurotic, which is characterized by the presence of various psychopathologies, and the controlling, which is characterized by an absence of characteristics associated with a personality disorder and other mental disorders.

This study outlines the results of an evaluation of programmes through a developmental quality assurance process within shelters for abused women and their children in Gauteng Province. The survey obtained the attitudes and opinions of the social workers/social auxiliary workers and shelter managers towards their services. The study reflects empirical findings as well as strengths and developmental areas within these shelters. The results from the study indicate that shelters for abused women and their children are functioning well. However, the Minimum Standards for Shelters are not fully adhered to. Therefore, internal and external evaluations should be used by shelter managers to evaluate their own performance and to improve service delivery. / Social Work / MA(SS) (Social Work)

This study outlines the results of an evaluation of programmes through a developmental quality assurance process within shelters for abused women and their children in Gauteng Province. The survey obtained the attitudes and opinions of the social workers/social auxiliary workers and shelter managers towards their services. The study reflects empirical findings as well as strengths and developmental areas within these shelters. The results from the study indicate that shelters for abused women and their children are functioning well. However, the Minimum Standards for Shelters are not fully adhered to. Therefore, internal and external evaluations should be used by shelter managers to evaluate their own performance and to improve service delivery. / Social Work / MA(SS) (Social Work)