NCJ Number
144913
Date Published
1993
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Battering between intimate partners is perpetrated overwhelmingly by men against women, and whether a woman will be victimized does not appear to depend on her characteristics and behavior.
Abstract
Studies comparing abused and nonabused women in relationships do not reveal significant differences. For most battered women, recovery from the effects of abuse occurs once they live in a violent-free environment, particularly if they are supported by a domestic violence program or social, family, and work relationships. In addition, much of the literature on domestic violence has claimed that batterers differ little from the general male population. More recent studies indicate that batterers have psychopathologies; lawyers, however, lack the expertise to determine the validity of these studies. If it is true that batterers have psychopathological characteristics, treatment programs should address these disorders. Viewing batterers as being disordered also has implications for their handling by the criminal justice system and their use of psychopathology as an insanity defense. Regardless of the nature of batterers, legal strategies must be pursued to help and protect abused women. 58 endnotes