Conceptualization and Measurement of Battering: Implications for Public Policy (From Woman Battering: Policy Responses, P 19-47, 1991, Michael Steinman, ed. -- See NCJ-129473)

• NCJ Number: 129475
• Author(s): M A Straus
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 29 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01MH40027; T32MH15161; SES8520232
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; University of New Hampshire; National Institute of Mental Health
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The concepts of "battering" or "abuse" of a spouse or person in a cohabiting relationship have been defined and measured in many ways; each with different implications for findings on incidence rates, causes, and prevention policies.

Abstract

Over time, the definition of abuse has expanded. However, the lack of clear normative standards has resulted in confusion regarding the concepts. Confusion also occurs because measures often lack clear distinctions between actions and injuries. Nevertheless, the concepts of abuse, violence, and assault can be differentiated and related to the concept of aggression as used in social psychology. In addition, sources of statistics include police reports, the conflict tactics scales, national crime surveys, other interview scales, emergency room protocols, and randomized response techniques. The 1985 National Family Violence Survey found that about 16 percent of couples experienced violence during the last year and more than one-third experience assault during the marriage. Statistics are often used to justify social policy, even when they are biased. In addition, statistics that do not match policy, such as those showing that females and males assault their partners at about the same rates, are ignored. Finally, the appropriateness of a sample depends on the policy purpose for which information from it is used. Notes and 84 references