Domestic Violence and Group Counseling

It is only since the 1970s that domestic violence became a visible social problem. This is not to say that domestic violence did not occur before that time, but that it was often seen as a purely private, family issue, rather than a criminal matter with social ramifications. During the past two decades, much has been learned about the dynamics of domestic violence, including the kinds of intervention that have potential for success.

A. Description and causes of domestic violence

There are some definitional issues in the description of domestic violence. This has an influence on determination of prevalence of domestic violence. For example, if domestic violence is considered as limited to physical violence, there would be a lower incidence reported than if it is considered to include emotional and sexual behaviors that are defined as abusive.

In their survey, Straus et. al (1981), well-known experts in the field, defined of, or perceived intention, of causing physical pain or injury to another person" (Straus et al., 1981). However, in his own research, Straus used the conflict tactics scale which does not actually include intention as part of the definition. Straus indicated that using the conflict tactics scale for the operationalisation of abuse assumes that certain physical acts are inherently abusive, with any hitting of a partner defined as abuse (Straus, 1990).

Straus and Gelles (1989) provided o

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nable to treatment, was labeled the "Cobra". This type of offender was defined as an individual who simply thinks of violence as a normal and natural part of life. This type of offender is both more violent and more intractably violent than the Pit Bull (Jacobson and Gottman, 1998). In working with perpetrators who are either voluntary attendees at offender groups, or involuntary attendees who have some sense that their behavior is unjustifiable, there are several approaches to use. Most use some combination of anger management training, along with teaching of improved interpersonal skills. One of the most important of those is communication skills. In their study, Whitchurch and Pace (1993) suggested that communication skills intervention, and training, would actually be helpful to both parties in a domestic violence situation. They approach the problem from a relational perspective, indicating that the treatment literature supports communication skills training as the best means to change communication patterns between the partners. In some instances of domestic violence that is limited to verbal violence, this might be sufficient, but additional interventions are necessary when physical, or sexual, assault is involved in
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Approximate Word count = 2545
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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