Changes in male partner abuser attachment styles in group treatment.

Abstract

This study examined attachment pattern change of partner violent men over the course of 17 weeks of integrated cognitive-behavioral/psychodynamic group treatment. Results indicated a significant increase in the number of men reporting a secure attachment from pre- to posttreatment. Subsequent analysis indicated that secure-changed men reported significant increases in comfort with closeness and depending on others from pre- to posttreatment. From pre- to posttreatment, insecure and secure-unchanged men reported an increase in avoidance of closeness. Additionally, secure-changed men reported lower anxiety and depression than insecure men at posttreatment. Finally, the total sample reported significant reductions in partner violence from pre to posttreatment. Based on these results, it would be important for clinicians and researchers to distinguish between men who changed to a secure attachment pattern over the course of treatment and securely attached men who remained unchanged. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Apego Adulto y Mentalización en Hombres que Han Ejercido Violencia Hacia su Pareja

“…Si bien los autores proponen que los hombres que han ejercido violencia pueden presentar apego seguro (Holtzworth-Munroe et al, 2003;Holtzworth-Munroe & Stuart, 1994;Lawson et al, 2006;Waltz et al, 2000), en la investigación de Buck et al (2014) los porcentajes fluctúan entre un 15 y un 27% como máximo. Los datos en Chile reportan un 21,7% (Barría Muñoz, 2013).…”

“…Loinaz, Echeburúa y Ullate (2012) plantean que la evaluación del apego forma parte de los protocolos que se utilizan con los hombres violentos con la pareja, para diferenciar subtipos de agresores (Amor, Echeburúa & Loinaz, 2009;Babcock et al, 2000;Dutton, 2008;Holtzworth-Munroe et al, 2000;Holtzworth-Munroe & Stuart, 1994) o para evaluar resultados terapéuticos (Lawson, Barnes, Madkins & Francois-Lamonte, 2006). Sin embargo, la mayoría de los estudios se ha centrado en hombres en reclusión carcelaria y orientados a la tipificación de los agresores (Dutton, 2008(Dutton, , 2011Echeburúa et al, 2009;Feeney, 1999;Jacobson & Gottman, 1998/2001Loinaz et al, 2012).…”

The current practices of intervention with batterers

“…The studies that adopted intervention models different from the cognitive behavioural, the psychoeducational or the combination of both 25,43,53 , revealed positive results. For instance, the study of Lawson et al 43 , that employed an intervention program based on cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic models, showed an increase in attachment and in global functioning and a decrease in anxiety and depressive symptoms and in violence against the partner or ex-partner.…”

“…In fact, these results are consistent with Arias et al 18 findings, showing that programs based on intervention models different from Duluth and cognitive-behavioural have a significantly positive effect. However, it is important to note that some of the programs included in the present analysis also integrate strategies from cognitive-behavioural models 43,54 . Additionally, some of these studies revealed other weaknesses: small sample dimentions 43 , research design 26,30,33,34,39,64 and sample specificities 50,54 .…”

“…For instance, the study of Lawson et al 43 , that employed an intervention program based on cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic models, showed an increase in attachment and in global functioning and a decrease in anxiety and depressive symptoms and in violence against the partner or ex-partner. The study conducted by Stith et al 50 , based on couples therapy, also revealed that subjects who participated in the intervention positively changed attitudes towards violence, marital satisfaction and abusive behaviours.…”