NCJ Number
90934
Date Published
1983
Length
45 pages
Annotation
Data gathered through interviews with 475 Finnish and 494 Swedish citizens give a picture of the attitudes in these two countries toward family violence and the prevalence of it.
Abstract
Twelve percent of the Finnish respondents and 11 percent of the Swedish respondents reported having experienced family violence. The most common form was violence directed by a man against his wife or common law wife (9 percent in Finland and 7 percent in Sweden). Swedish respondents regarded the public interest element in family violence stronger than did Finnish respondents. The large majority of Finnish respondents supported a more independent position for the victim in dealing with the matter in court, while the large majority of the Swedish respondents supported the view that the offense always should be open to public prosecution. In other words, prosecution should not depend on the desires of the victim. A difference was also discernable in social control. When questioned, over half of the Finnish respondents and over two-thirds of the Swedish respondents believed that people should intervene more often in violent situations taking place next door. In both countries, macrolevel explanatory theories of family violence received most support. More support can be found in Finland than in Sweden for individual-oriented theories; for example, the theory that family violence is regarded as a result of a number of factors. Study data and 36 references are provided. (Author abstract modified)