1. Domestic Violence and Stalking
Chapter 10

2. Defining and Identifying The Prevalence of Domestic Violence
Aggression perpetrated within a significant interpersonal relationship
Includes psychological, physical, and sexual aggression
Prevalence estimates may vary depending on source of sample and methodology of study
Clinical versus Community Samples
Self-report surveys, interviews, and criminal justice statistics

3. Assessment of Domestic Violence Among Intimate Partner
CTS (Conflict Tactics Scale)
Most common measure used to assess domestic violence
Focuses on Severity and Frequency
Assesses psychological aggression, physical aggression, sexual aggression, and negotiation behaviors
Has been criticized for various reasons

4. Assessing Consequences of Domestic Violence
Physical
May result in 1.4 million emergency room visits each year
Psychological
PTSD
Battered woman syndrome
Depression
Substance abuse
Low self-esteem

5. Risk Factors and Risk Assessment in Domestic Violence
May be especially important to focus on the perceptions of the victim
Especially important when victim is in continued contact with perpetrator
Risk Factors for Domestic Violence
Have largely examined risk factors for the onset of physical violence

6. Demographic and Historical Factors
Age
Socioeconomic Status
Race
other variables account for relationship
Childhood exposure to domestic violence
Intergenerational transmission of violence

7. Psychological Characteristics related to Domestic Violence
Anger or Hostility
Substance use and Abuse
Related to immediate and chronic use
Depression
May be related to heightened display of emotion

8. Relationship and Contextual Factors Related to Perpetration
Marital satisfaction
Communication patterns
Pregnancy
Ending an intimate relationship

9. Assessing Risk and Recidivism
Hilton and Harris (2005) identified several risk factors for recidivism
Antisocial behavior
Psychopathy
Substance abuse
History of assault
Psychological abuse in relationship

10. Principles of Spousal Risk Assessment
1. Risk Assessments Should Consider Risk Factors Supported in the Literature
2. Risk Assessments Should Employ Multiple Sources of Information
3. Risk Assessments Should be Victim-Informed
4. Risk Assessments Can be Improved by Using Tools and/or Guidelines
5. Risk Assessment Should Lead to Risk Management

11. Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Measures
Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA)
Structured
Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA)
Actuarial
Danger Assessment Scale (DAS)
Yes/No interview with victim

12. Domestic Violence Treatment
Educational and Psychological Treatment
Programs for Men
Often court-referred
Based on feminist (Duluth) and CBT perspectives
Effectiveness is unclear
Programs for Women
Increasing self-esteem, decreasing self-blame, and increasing awareness of abuse alternatives
Individual or Group-based
Programs for Couples
Should only occur after cessation of violence

13. Community-Based Interventions
Shelters
Safe homes
Advocacy
Criminal Justice Interventions
Arrest
Mandatory arrest polices
Restraining Orders
Almost 1/3 are violated
Different causes for different severity levels of domestic violence

14. Gender Differences in the Perpetration of Domestic Violence
Criminal databases estimate that 10 times as many women as men are victims of domestic violence
National surveys find that rates based on frequency counts are roughly equal, though women are less likely to inflict harm
Recent studies have revealed that men and women’s violence share similar correlates
Difference between Battering and Domestic Violence may be important

15. Stalking All 50 states in the U.S. have an anti-stalking law
willful harassment of a person with the intent to injure, terrify, threaten, or intimidate
Stalker Types
Simple Obsessional (65%)
Love Obsessional (25%)
Erotomanic (5%)

16. Stalking Behaviors Followed, spied on, stood outside home 77%
Made unwanted phone calls %
Overt threats %
Sent of left unwanted letters, items %
Vandalized property %
Killed or threatened to kill family pet %