Citation

Hamberger LK, Ambuel B. Psychotherapy 1997; 34(4): 375-385.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0087782

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Partner violence is an epidemic with serious medical and psychological consequences. While victims frequently seek medical and psychological help, they rarely, if ever, disclose victimization as a presenting problem. Conversely, health care professionals, including psychologists, rarely ask about violence or provide appropriate help when violence is detected. To address this problem, organized medicine has promoted and developed models and curricula for educating students and professionals to identify and help partner-violence victims. Psychologists have made important contributions to understanding partner violence. However, organized psychology has yet to develop and widely promote model violence education curricula for identifying and helping victims (as well as perpetrators) of partner violence. This article describes a medical-education curriculum and discusses its potential applications for psychology training. The curriculum emphasizes helping learners develop appropriate (a) knowledge of partner-violence issues and dynamics, (b) motivation to identify and help victims and perpetrators, and (c) requisite skills for identification and intervention. Applications of these principles are described and discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)