NCJ Number
49364
Journal
Social Casework Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 3-12
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
BASED ON THE EXPERIENCES OF THE DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY (MICH.) FAMILY SERVICE, CLIENT AND SITUATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS IN CASES INVOLVING FAMILIAL VIOLENCE AND CASEWORK INTERVENTION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
CLIENTS SEEKING FAMILY SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE INCLUDE BOTH VICTIMS/POTENTIAL VICTIMS AND ASSAILANTS/ POTENTIAL ASSAILANTS. THE TYPICAL VICTIM IS FEMALE. SHE SEEKS HELP IN DEALING WITH AN ABUSIVE HUSBAND, USUALLY HAS STRONG FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS, IDENTIFIES WITH HER MARITAL ROLE, AND MAY HAVE MASOCHISTIC TENDENCIES. THE VIOLENT CLIENT IS OFTEN MORE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND AND WORK WITH. TYPICALLY, THIS CLIENT IS A HUSBAND WITH A HISTORY OF EXPLOSIVE TEMPER AND FIGHTING. HIS SENSE OF MASCULINE ADEQUACY IS TENUOUS, AND TYPICALLY HE OVER-REACTS TO BEING SLIGHTED OR RIDICULED. A SECOND TYPE OF VIOLENT CLIENT IS ONE WHOSE VIOLENCE OR ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIORS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD THE COMMUNITY. AN ANALYSIS OF FAMILY SERVICE RECORDS INDICATED THAT IN 74 PERCENT OF THE CASES INVOLVING FAMILY VIOLENCE, THE PROBLEM WAS APPROACHED SPECIFICALLY BY THE CLIENT AT INTAKE. OF 109 CASES, 49 PERCENT WERE RELATED TO OTHER TYPES OF VIOLENCE. IN GENERAL THESE CLIENTS ARE BETWEEN 24 TO 25 YEARS OLD, LIVING IN A FAMILY SITUATION, WITH A SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE OR AVERAGE INCOME. THE MAJORITY WERE WHITE, HAD A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, AND AN EMPLOYED HOUSEHOLD HEAD. A COMPARISON OF THESE CASES WITH OTHER CASES INDICATED THAT VIOLENCE-RELATED CLIENTS WERE USUALLY SELF-REFERRED AND REQUIRED MORE SERVICE THAN OTHER TYPES OF CASES. PSYCHOSOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH ABUSED AND ABUSIVE CLIENTS INDICATED THAT THEY WERE LIKELY TO HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE IN THEIR OWN CHILDHOODS, HAD AUTHORITARIAN AND PUNITIVE PARENTS, HAD LOW SELF-ESTEEM, WERE SOCIALLY ISOLATED, EXPERIENCED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, AND HAD DIFFICULTY IN ADJUSTING TO STRESS. INTERVENTION FOR THESE CLIENTS INVOLVED RESPONDING TO THE CLIENT'S URGENCY, EXPRESSING CONCERN AND SYMPATHY, EXPLORING THE CLIENTS FEARS AND FEELINGS, ESTABLISHING PREVENTIVE MEASURES OR ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENT OR SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS, MAKING CLEAR THE CASEWORKER'S ACCESSIBILITY DURING CRISES, ASSESSING SUPPORT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE TO THE CLIENT, DEALING WITH THE CLIENT'S EMOTIONS, EXPLORING THE CLIENT'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS THEY RELATE TO THE PROBLEM, AND IDENTIFYING REPLACEMENTS OR REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR LOSSES. BRIEF CASE STUDIES ARE INCLUDED TO ILLUSTRATE CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES. TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)