The
Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1996) revealed some of the issues that challenge researchers and professionals seeking to prevent and stop domestic violence. The Task Force identified twelve dilemmas faced by family violence researchers and mental health practitioners, including these concerns:
- Privacy—There is an inescapable tension between the right of individuals to privacy and the need to penetrate the isolation and secrecy that often shield intimate partner violence from public scrutiny. One example of how this concern affects research is the preponderance of data suggesting that more violence occurs among low-income families. Researchers speculate that these data may simply indicate that low-income victims who must rely on hospital emergency departments and battered women's shelters are less able to conceal the consequences of abuse than persons with greater resources.
- Expectations of law enforcement—There are differing expectations of the police response to violence. Many victims want the police to intervene to stop abusive behavior, but they do not want the perpetrators punished. On the other hand, researchers, health professionals, and law enforcement personnel often contend that mandatory treatment and arrests are necessary to protect victims from further harm and to safeguard the community at large.
- Conflicting attitudes about abuse—Although most people feel sympathy for victims, there are those who believe that society inadvertently encourages victims by allowing them to use a history of abuse as an excuse for all subsequent bad behavior and problems. This viewpoint is different from blaming the victim for the abuse because it is intended to help victims assume individual responsibility for their behavior, and to heal and recover, rather than remain in the role of victim.
- Effectiveness of mandated treatment—There are ongoing debates about the effectiveness of different philosophies and models of treatment, as well as the use of court-ordered treatment. While some abusers who complete mandatory treatment programs do change their behavior, many studies confirm that these perpetrators are the most motivated and that many other offenders fail to complete court-ordered treatment. However, the American Psychological Association asserted that while the desire to change is linked to favorable outcomes of treatment, involuntary treatment can nevertheless be effective, especially when the perpetrator has been evaluated and enrolled in the most appropriate program.
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