NCJ Number
212864
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2006 Pages: 110-130
Date Published
January 2006
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined the hypothesis that minimization, denial, and victim blaming are related to increased recidivism among convicted male domestic violence (DV) offenders.
Abstract
Although high levels of minimization, denial, victim blaming, and socially desirable responding were found within the sample of 2,824 convicted DV offenders, analysis of new DV police reports for the sample found little evidence linking these variables to increased DV recidivism. Future research should focus on the impact of batterer’s minimization, denial, and externalization of blame on their intimate partner victims. Findings of statistical analyses revealed that one out of every five DV offenders denied arguing with his intimate partner during the arrest incident. Moreover, in contrast to the findings of previous studies, it was found that DV offenders who engaged in socially desirable responding during assessment were actually less likely to recidivate than DV offenders who were more forthright on self-report measures. The 2,824 male DV offenders were assessed through the centralized Domestic Violence Assessment Center (DVAC) in Shelby County, TN following their conviction for domestic assault against a heterosexual intimate partner. Participants completed a series of surveys assessing attributions of blame, self-defense, denial, minimization, and social desirability. Recidivism was measured using local police reports on participants up to 50 months following assessment. Tables, references