Intimate Partner Violence in Adult Relationships

1
Intimate Partner Violence in Adult Relationships

• Dr. Michelle L. Meloy

2
Categories of Intimate Partner Violence

• 1. Physical abuse
• 2. Sexual abuse
• 3. Psychological
• abuse
• Destruction of pets property
• Financial Control

3
Prevalence-Incidence of IPV

• Given underreporting were unable to give exact
  prevalence estimates
• Gendered Offending Males are generally the
  perpetrators of serious forms of IPV
• Gendered Victimization Females are usually the
  victims of serous forms of IPV -- 1 out of 2
  women may be exposed to IPV
• Extent of female-perpetrated violence in intimate
  relationships is hotly contested
• When violent act is not contextualized,
  prevalence rates are nearly identical between men
  and women (see Conflict Tactic Scale data)

4
Male Victims of IPV

• NCVS showed that over 103,000 men reported
  physical abuse by an intimate partner
• NVAWS found 7 of males have been physically
  abuse by an intimate partner
• CTS related research found that 12 of male
  respondents reported some degree of physical
  assault by their female partners
• Less serious forms of IPV associated with higher
  levels of female perpetrated violence

5
Male Victims and Female Offenders

• Motivations for female perpetrated violence may
  not be limited to self-defense or retaliation for
  violence
• One study of college women found they use
  violence against their partners in response to
  anger, emotional harm, to get even and gain
  control in the relationship
• 1 in 4 violent relationships may have a female
  abuser

6
How do Victims Escape Inhibitors to Getting out
of a violent relationship?

• Economic Restrictions
• Sociological Restrictions
• social problem recognition, socialization of
  marriage, religious teaching
• Psychological Restrictions
• learned helplessness, traumatic bonding, low
  self-esteem
• Constant Threats/Danger
• warns of violence escalation if left most lethal
  period
• Criminal Justice Systems Response

7
Walkers Cycle of Violence

• 3 phases of abuse in the continual pattern of
  intimate partner violence
• Phase I Tension Building/Eggshells
• Phase II Acute Abuse/Battering
• Phase III Make up/Wine Roses
• Over time, the violence will likely increase in
  frequency and intensity

8
Walkers Cycle of Violence

• Each battering incident leaves the victim feeling
  more helpless, shame, embarrassment and fear
• Length of the phases changes over time tension
  building becomes longer and loving and apology
  becomes shorter
• Both come to believe it is HER fault
• Accepting responsibility for the abuse allows the
  victim to feel more in control and allows the
  perpetrator to feel less culpable