The battered woman syndrome

Description

With its focus on the connection between health and mental health symptoms, this seminal, groundbreaking work continues to forge new directions in the field of domestic violence. Describing a condition that is the basis for the battered woman defense--cited in cases of physically and psychologically abused women who have killed their abusers--it continues to be used as a defense to explain premeditated assault or murder. It examines new research regarding battered women and cross-cultural and cross-national issues, and includes several new chapters addressing issues ranging from murder--suicide in domestic violence cases to proposed legislation and congressional resolutions Contents Preface Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH STUDY THE BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME Overview of the Battered Woman Syndrome Psychosocial Characteristics of Battered Women, Batterers, and Nonbatterers The Lethal Potential Sexual Issuesfor Battered WomenThe Impact of Violencein the Homeon Children Violence, Alcoholand Drug Use THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Learned Helplessnessand Battered Women Walker CycleTheory of Violence IMPLICATIONS FORA VIOLENCE-FREEFUTURE Psychotherapeutic Responses toChanging Violent Relationships Legal Responses to Changing Violent Behavior CONCLUSIONS APPENDIXES Sample Selection Procedures Staff Selection and Training The Interview Standardized Scales Data Analysis REFERENCES INDEX