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VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY

NCJ Number
61811
Author(s)
A R K MITCHELL
Date Published
1978
Length
153 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, THIS VOLUME EXAMINES THE MECHANISM OF VIOLENCE IN THE INDIVIDUAL AND IN THE LARGER FRAMEWORK OF SOCIETY AND RECOMMENDS WAYS TO CONTROL VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
STUDIES OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, BIOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, AND PSYCHOLOGY SHOW THAT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR RESULTS FROM MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, OR BIOLOGICAL DEFICIENCIES THAT LIMIT A PERSON'S ABILITY TO MANAGE SPACE, EVENTS, AND RELATIONSHIPS IN A NONVIOLENT WAY. THE FAMILY IS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO VIOLENCE SINCE IT IS THE MILIEU WHERE THE MEETING OF EMOTIONAL NEEDS IS MOST CRUCIAL. THE VARIOUS FORMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE--CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND SPOUSE ABUSE--HAVE BEEN SHOWN BY RESEARCH STUDIES TO BE RELATED TO SOCIAL ISOLATION OF BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, ABUSE OF PARENTS DURING CHILDHOOD, AND LOW SELF-ESTEEM. AREAS OF FAMILY LIFE IN WHICH VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS OFTEN PRESENT ARE DURING CHILDBIRTH, DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES, ADOLESCENT REBELLION, PROTECTION OF PROPERTY, AND SUICIDAL DEPRESSION. FAMILIES ARE GENERALLY CAREFUL TO CONCEAL PATTERNS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE FROM THOSE OUTSIDE THE HOME. STEPS IN DETECTING FAMILY VIOLENCE INCLUDE (1) OBSERVATION OF THE AVAILABLE DATA, (2) ANALYSIS OF A PATTERN OF EVENTS, (3) STAGE OF EARLY SUSPICIOUSNESS, (4) SEARCH FOR CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE, (5) CONFIRMATION AND DIAGNOSIS, AND (6) THE DECISION TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. VIOLENT BEHAVIOR CAN BE PREVENTED AND MODIFIED THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL CONDITIONING THAT TEACHES HOW TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS NONVIOLENTLY, THROUGH ENLIGHTENED CASE MANAGEMENT OF VIOLENT-PRONE FAMILIES, AND THROUGH FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSE AND AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF VIOLENCE. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)