DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORLDWIDE

Definition

"…a pattern of abusive behaviors including a wide range of physical, sexual, and psychological maltreatment used by one person in an intimate relationship against another to gain power unfairly or maintain that person’s misuse of power, control , and authority" (Walker, 1999, p. 23).

Issues Similar Across Countries

Goals: Understanding, Stopping, Preventing

Domestic Violence as a Human Rights Issue

Predictors

    Lack of Social Networks
    
    Marital Control by Husband
   
    History of Family-of-Origin Violence
   
    Socialization of Gender Inequality

    Intergroup and State-sanctioned Violence
    
        Rape as a Tool of War (Bosnia)
    
        Destruction of Infrastructure (Nicaragua)

    Upheaval and Migration Breed Violence (Russia, Israel)

International Community’s Response

    Council of Europe
    Pan American Health Organization
    UN

Psychology’s Focus

    Impact of Violence
    Needs Assessment
    Small and Large Interventions

Multidisciplinary Approaches Promising

    Challenge Societal Norms
    Empower Women
    Provide Healing
    (but disciplines use different terms)

Psychology and the Law

    More Laws Passed
        
        Domestic Violence
        Child Abuse

    Law Often Not Enforced
        
        Arrest Can Increase Violence
        Sociocultural Attitudes
        
    Brazil’s “Special” Police Stations
    
    Female Officers and Therapists
        
Other Holistic Approaches

    Uruguay’s Ecological Approach
            
        Clinical Treatment for Healing
            
            Sex-role Resocialization
            Machismo/Marianismo
            Meaning of Gender/Sexuality
            Power Rebalancing

    Mexico’s Empowerment Programs
            
        Public Health Approach
                
            Awareness via Education
            Community Empowerment
            Mandated Treatment

DISCUSSION:

➢    What are the pros and cons of social-education versus individual-clinical approaches?