Decision To Leave an Abusive Relationship (From Coping With Family Violence: Research and Policy Perspectives, P 93-106, 1988, Gerald T Hotaling, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-114444)

• NCJ Number: 114449
• Author(s): M J Strube
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Empirical evidence regarding women's decisions to leave abusive relationships show that women who stay in these relationships often lack the economic means to leave, are very committed to making the relationship last, and are willing to tolerate the abuse as long as it does not become too severe or involve the children.

Abstract

Three models have been presented that offer possibilities for explaining the decisionmaking process of battered wives. The psychological entrapment model refers to a process in which individuals perceive that they have too much invested to quit, even though the costs may far exceed the worth of the final goal. Thus, the women continue to exert efforts to make the relationship work in order to justify past efforts. The learned helplessness model depicts cognitive, affective, and motivational deficits that are characterized by the inability to initiate responses that could remove the individual from the situation that has induced the helplessness. The third model rests on exchange theory and uses the concepts of assessing costs and benefits in making decisions. 43 references.