Psychology and violence against women.

Abstract

The discipline of psychology has made many contributions to the understanding of the social problem of men's violence against women during the past 15 years by reframing the problem as one of misuse of power by men who have been socialized into believing they are entitled to control the women in their lives, even by violent means. The new scientific psychology data base formed by integrating feminist gender analysis methods into more traditional psychological methodology is discussed, as are the implications of the resulting empirical data on which are based newer assessment, treatment, and forensic applications. A review of the major psychological advances in psychotherapy with women who have been sexual assaulted, exploited, and battered is presented, as well as implications for national policy. The feminist model presented is one in which science and practice concerns are carefully considered at all steps of the process. The article concludes with a discussion of the challenges involved in making the future training of psychologists more relevant to women's mental health concerns.

Testing predictions from the male control theory of men's partner violence

“…The male control theory of IPV, derived separately from feminist and evolutionary theory, predicts that there would be sex differences in IPVand the use of control tactics within relationships. According to feminist researchers (e.g., Browne, 1987;Dobash & Dobash, 1979;Saunders, 1986;Smith, 1990;Walker, 1989) IPV is mostly perpetrated by men who use their aggression to maintain power and control within the family structure. Male power is rooted in a patriarchal societal structure, which tolerates the use of violence against women as a tool for control (e.g., Pagelow, 1984).…”

Repercusiones Psicopatológicas de la violencia doméstica en la mujer : un estudio descriptivo

“…Douglas, 1987;Rosewater, 1988;Waiker, 1989Waiker, , 1991Houskamp y Foy, 1991;Dutton, 1992;Kusher, Riggs, Foa y Miller, 1992;DuttonDouglas, Burghardt, Perrin y Ctirestman, 1994;Zubizarreta ef al., 1994) El trastorno de estrés postraumático se da con mayor intensidad cuando las víctimas están más inadaptadas, experimentan relaciones sexuales forzadas, sufren maltrato incluso durante los embarazos, no denuncian la situación en la que se encuentran y carecen de apoyo social y familiar.…”

“…Los cuadros clínicos más frecuentemente relacionados con los efectos de la violencia familiar son la depresión (Campbell, Sullivan y Davidson, 1995;Rosewater, 1988;Sato y Heiby, 1992;Straus, 1987) y el trastorno de estrés postraumático (Douglas, 1987;Dutton, 1992;Dutton-Douglas, Burghardt, Perrin y Chrestman, 1994;Houskamp y Foy, 1991;Kusher, Riggs, Foa y Miller, 1992;Waiker, 1989;Zubizan-eta ef al., 1994).…”

Differentiation and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Although most of the recent studies on attitudes supporting violence against women focus on examining attitudes of men in non-western societies (Diop-Sidibe, Campbell, & Becker, 2005;Haj-Yahia, 2000, 2003Khawaja, 2004;Khawaja, Linos, & El-Roueiheb, 2008), attitudes approving violence against women have been found to continue to persist in our country (Johnson, 1995;Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, 1980;Walker, 1989Walker, , 1996Yllo, 1993;Yllo & Straus, 1990). Attitudes and beliefs about violence towards women and wife beating have been regarded as important for understanding factors that cause and perpetuate IPV and have been documented as risk factors for IPV (Gelles & Harrop, 1989;Gelles & Straus, 1988;Saunders, 1988;Saunders, Lynch, Grayson & Linz, 1987;Straus, 1980;Tjaden, & Thoennes, 2000).…”