Victims, Aggressors and the Family Secret - An Exploration Into Family Violence

• NCJ Number: 94191
• Author(s): C R Watkins
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 158 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services; Minnesota Dept of Public Welfare
• Sale Source: Minnesota Dept of Public Welfare; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This book examines family violence in various forms: parent to child, sibling to sibling, husband to wife, and adult child to elder.

Abstract

A major contributing problem in our culture is the traditon of the patriarchal family. Most family victims are female; most violent aggressors are male. A family approach can support the power of the aggressor and facilitate victimization of other family members. Examining and servicing the family as a unit can diffuse the characteristics of the victims and aggressors and the powers and vulnerabilities of individual family members. There are varying degrees of violence in different families. Physical or sexual abuse is seldom the only method of abuse used in the family. Health concerns resulting from violence include physical, emotional, and mental illness or disability, and chemical abuse. Complex economic issues are also associated with family violence. All the formal intervention methods are essential in identifying and eliminating violence in the family. Guidelines on resources emphasize housing, volunteer services, and caregiving services. Chapter footnotes and a 10-page bibliography are included.