NCJ Number
53361
Date Published
1978
Length
65 pages
Annotation
RECENT SURVEY OF 2,143 AMERICAN FAMILIES INDICATES THAT APPROXIMATELY 1.78 MILLION WIVES ARE BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS EACH YEAR. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OBTAINING ACCURATE STATISTICS FOR WIFE BEATING ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
CAUSES OF WIFE BEATING ARE CONSIDERED UNDER THE FOLLOWING GENERAL TOPICS: HIGH LEVEL OF FAMILY CONFLICT, HIGH LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY, FAMILY SOCIALIZATION OF VIOLENCE, CULTURAL NORMS LEGITIMIZING FAMILY VIOLENCE, SEXUAL INEQUALITY, AND THE VIOLENT NATURE OF OUR SOCIETY. EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS AIMED AT ALTERING CAUSAL FACTORS WITHIN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED. THE FOLLOWING IMMEDIATE TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE OPEN TO A BATTERED WIFE: GET HELP, GET A DIVORCE, BE PREPARED TO LEAVE, GET A JOB, PROBLEM-FOCUSED ASSERTIVENESS, AND LEAVE OR TAKE LEGAL ACTION. A TASK FORCE ON WIFE ABUSE, HOTLINES AND SUPPORT GROUPS, SAFE HOUSES, LEGAL AID, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, POLICE ATTITUDES AND POLICIES REGARDING WIFE BEATING, AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION ARE ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY PERSONS AND GROUPS CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM OF WIFE BEATING. A THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ORIENTATION TOWARD RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF WIFE BEATING IS EXAMINED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IN RESEARCH APPROACHES, WIFE BEATING SHOULD BE VIEWED WITHIN A FRAMEWORK THAT CONSIDERS FAMILY VIOLENCE AS A WHOLE, WHICH SHOULD IN TURN BE EXAMINED AS ONE ASPECT OF VIOLENCE AS A SYSTEM OF SOCIAL RELATIONS CHARACTERIZING THE SOCIETY IN GENERAL. 'MULTIMETHOD TRIANGULATION,' INVOLVING THE USE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF RESEARCH METHODS IS RECOMMENDED AS A METHOD FOR ASSURING CONFIDENCE IN THE RESEARCH FINDINGS. LONGITUDINAL STUDIES ARE ALSO URGED. SPECIFIC ISSUES REQUIRING RESEARCH ARE LISTED AND BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)