NCJ Number
104528
Date Published
1987
Length
239 pages
Annotation
Drawing on interviews with 250 physically abused women -- including 42 charged with murder or attempted murder of their mates -- this book explores the roots, dynamics, and tragic consequences of violence in families.
Abstract
Case histories demonstrate the progression of an abusive relationship through courtship to an escalation of assault and threat that eventually results in death. These experiences show how romantic idealism sustains the early stages of abusive relationships and can actually foster the escalation of aggression against a loved one. The author explores the ways battered women adapt to their tormentors' behaviors in order to survive and how children who witness marital violence are more likely to become involved in abusive relationships than those who do not. A comparison of abused women who did not resort to lethal action with those who turned violent against their mates reveals few differences between the two groups. The differences lie in the men: those who were killed had surpassed the limits of acceptable aggression by escalating their violence or turning their threats against the children. A chapter on the criminal justice system's harsh response to abused women who kill their mates discusses laws traditionally applied in marital violence and defense options. References and indexes.