NCJ Number
59573
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
CURRENT PSYCHOTHERAPY THEORIES AND PRACTICES ARE EXAMINED AND FOUND TO HAVE SEXIST BIASES WHICH INTERFERE WITH ADEQUATE TREATMENT OF BATTERED WOMEN, ESPECIALLY RAPE AND INCEST VICTIMS.
Abstract
THERAPIES CONSIDERED INCLUDE (1) PSYCHOANALYTICAL, DYNAMIC, INSIGHT-ORIENTED THERAPIES AND EGO PSYCHOLOGY; (2) HUMANISTICALLY-ORIENTED THERAPIES INCLUDING CLIENT CENTERED, EXISTENTIALISM, GESTALT, AND OTHER EXPERIENTIALLY BASED THERAPIES; AND (3) SOCIAL LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR THERAPIES. THE FIRST GROUP OF THERAPIES IS CRITICIZED FOR (1) CREATING ASSUMPTIONS THAT SUPPORT THE VICTIM PRECIPITATION PROPOSITION, (2) FOR THEREBY BECOMING A SECOND FORM OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THESE WOMEN, AND (3) FOR USING MALE CENTERED TERMS TO DESCRIBE WOMEN'S BEHAVIOR AND FEELINGS. A DENVER, COLO., BASED THERAPY PROGRAM'S FINDING THAT 35 PERCENT OF THEIR CLIENTS EXPERIENCE WIFE BEATING AND INCEST IS CITED TO SUPPORT THE ASSERTION THAT THE TWO PROBLEMS OVERLAP IN FAMILIES AND THAT VICTIMS, BOTH MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, ARE OFTEN TOO TERRIFIED TO ACT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ANALYTICALLY BASED WORDS (FRIGID, CASTRATING, ETC.) BE REMOVED FROM THERAPISTS' VOCABULARIES AND THAT VICTIMS NOT BE BLAMED. THE SECOND GROUP OF THERAPIES IS CRITICIZED FOR (1) SUBTLY BLAMING THE VICTIM, (2) TRYING TO CHANGE THE VICTIM, AND (3) ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO FEEL COMPASSION FOR THEIR ATTACKER, THEREBY PREVENTING NECESSARY EXPRESSION OF PAIN AND RAGE. USE OF THERAPY TO ADVOCATE ELIMINATION OF INEQUALITY BETWEEN THE SEXES IS RECOMMENDED. THE THIRD GROUP OF THERAPIES IS ALSO CRITICIZED FOR ITS SEXIST BIASES, WHICH, ALTHOUGH LESS READILY APPARENT THAN IN THE OTHER GROUPS OF THEORIES, CAN REDUCE MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE AS WELL AS OPTIONS FOR CHANGES, AND CAN PRODUCE COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IN THE WOMEN TREATED. HOWEVER, PSYCHOTHERAPY, DESPITE ITS SEXIST BIAS, CAN BE A USEFUL TREATMENT FOR BATTERED WOMEN. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF (1) FEMINIST THERAPY PHILOSOPHY; (2) USE OF WOMEN THERAPISTS; (3) UNDERSTANDING AND CAREFUL RELEASING OF POWERFUL FEELINGS, AND REGAINING FEELINGS OF BODILY CONTROL AND SELF WORTH BY THE BATTERED WOMAN; AND (4) PERSONAL WORK BY WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, INDIVIDUALLY OR THROUGH POLITICAL OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TOWARD A JUST AND FAIR SOCIETY. REFERENCES AND CHARTS ARE NOT INCLUDED. (CFW)