Lecture 5 Flashcards
Why consider alternative perspectives (IPV)?
impacts everyone who is exposed to it in some way, regardless of their age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, background, or other factors
different populations can have different experiences with IPV that can make them more vulnerable or can result in the IPV and its impact manifesting in different ways
How is understanding the differences of people’s experiences of IPV important?
By understanding these differences, we can tailor interventions and supports to account for any unique risk factors or other considerations that would be overlooked using a standard, “one-size-fits-all” approach. Of course, we do not always have the understanding or the resources to provide tailored and
effective treatments for everyone.
Is current practice too narrow?
Women as perpetrators
- follows feminist theory - female-perpetrated violence as self-defence or trivial in comparison to male-perpetrated violence
- some disagree - women report being more frequently aggressive towards their partners
compared to men, that violence is often mutual in relationships, and that female-perpetrated IPV seems to occur at similar rates to male perpetration.
What did Stets and Straus (1989) find?
found mutual violence to be equal in severity, with women striking first more often.
Evidence from the 80s and 90s regarding women as perpetrators
suggest lesbian relationships are significantly more violent than
gay male relationships, and even more violent than heterosexual relationships.
Psychological vs. Physical Abuse in women as perpetrators
Non-physical forms of abuse (e.g., psychological, financial, controlling) tend to be seen as less serious and are less likely to be perceived as requiring intervention. Physical abuse is considered more serious the worse it becomes, and the more severe the impact.
Disagreements with psychological and physical abuse
the impact of these forms of abuse can have severe consequences for victims in
terms of both physical and mental health outcomes, even in cases of “mild” physical abuse.
What did Swan et al., (2008) find
found women and men perpetrate psychological and physical violence equally, but
men suffer fewer injuries and negative effects. This could be a reason why female-perpetrated IPV is able to avoid detection or be considered less serious when it is detected
Langhinrichensen=Rohling et al (2012) Findings
60% of IPV in a sample of ~3,000 men and women was bidirectional (both partners were victims). Of the remaining unilateral violence (one victim), ~17% was perpetrated by men against women and ~23% by women against men.
Reports of bidirectionality vary in findings and validity,
- evidence for mutual violence occurring across
heterosexual relationships. - The exception is sexual violence, which is mostly unidirectional with men
perpetrating against women. Even if these findings are not fully representative or generalizable, they do
indicate manifestations of violence that are not accounted for in the current mainstream IPV models.
Relationships that involve bidirectional violence tends to
result in worse outcomes and involve more severe violence
What is the affect when focusing on bi-directionality?
would have implications for intervention.
Rather than a focus on educating men about patriarchy, power, and control, interventions could center around conflict management, attachment styles, and aggression for both partners.
If not patriarchy, then what?
Female perpetration of violence has been linked to similar predictors of male violence, suggesting a general model of aggression.
Perhaps gender is less important than a generally aggressive interpersonal lifestyle?
- parental rejection
- BPD
- Trauma
- anger
- emotional dysregulation
Common form of perpetration for women
psychological abuse
Medeiros & Straus (2006) found that for both male and female IPV perpetrators, the following were associated with a greater likelihood of assaulting a partner (slapping, throwing things):
found that for both male and female IPV perpetrators, the following were
associated with a greater likelihood of assaulting a partner (slapping, throwing things):
- anger
- Antisocial & Boderline personality traits
- relationship conflict
- communication problems
- dominance
- negative attributions about the partner
- substance abuse
Medeiros & Straus (2006) found that for both male and female IPV perpetrators, the following were associated
with a greater likelihood of severely assaulting a partner:
- Sexual abuse victimization history (far stronger association for men).
- Relationship conflict (stronger association for men).
- Violence approval (stronger association for men).
- Dominance, anger, APD, communication problems, criminal history, jealousy, negative attributions about
partner, history of neglect, and stressful conditions. - Substance Abuse and PTSD seemed to be a risk for men but not women.
- “Adverse childhood experiences” (ACE) and childhood trauma is a pathway to violence for women too.
Men as victims and feminist model
The feminist model of IPV is supported by crime statistics that show far more men being charged and convicted of IPV offences compared to women. Critics point out this fails to account for the stigma involved with male victims reporting IPV and the barriers to reporting for men.
True or False: Male-on-female violence is the most likely form of violence to be condemned by third parties compared to any other, leading some to believe male victimization “matters less” to the average person
True
Coercive control and male victims
often seen as a gendered form of violence supported by patriarchy, has been reported
to be perpetrated equally as often by men and women.
True or False: Women were found to be more physically aggressive and controlling than men.
True
Despite reports of equal rates of perpetration against men and women,
male victims of IPV invite more
negative attitudes compared to female victims (Arnocky & Vaillancourt, 2014).
Men are more likely to minimize and brush off violence, and less likely to disclose IPV or seek help.
Men are also less likely to
experience severe violence, which might make their victimization seem less important.
