Citation

Seamans CL, Rubin LJ, Stabb SD. J. Trauma Dissociation 2007; 8(2): 47-68.

Affiliation

Texas Woman's University, 6904 Meadow Lake Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75214, USA. clseamans@hotmail.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J229v08n02_04

PMID

17804383

Abstract

This qualitative study examined female domestic violence offenders via structured interviews with 13 women referred for treatment in batterers' intervention programs in a major metropolitan area. The majority of women were victims of childhood abuse and/or witnessed violence between their parents. Most reported feeling cut-off from their mothers, left their childhood homes before the age of 18, and experienced violence at the hands of a prior partner. Women's motivations for current violence were primarily in self-defense or in retaliation for their partners' physical abuse, and secondarily in response to partner emotional abuse, control tactics, to get attention/be heard, or to express anger. A minority sought to control their partners. Differential treatment considerations and recommendations for women versus men batterers are included.

Language: en