The Legal and Psychosocial Context of Family Violence: Toward a Social Ecological Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this special issues is to advance our understanding of family violence by utilizing a social ecological framework that both encompasses and addresses the interrelationship between the legal and psychosocial contexts of family violence (Bronfenbrenner 1979; Garbarino 1977; Goldstein 1994; Moos 1973). A social ecological framework necessitates acknowledging and understanding that human behavior is influenced by several levels of analysis rather than only immediate and intrapersonal influences. Based on this perspective, researchers must take into account social, contextual, environmental, and individual factors to fully understand a particular phenomenon such as family violence. The articles themselves reflect current scholarly and professional trends towards a more interdisciplinary, systemic approach to complex psychosocial problems such as family violence. Each of the articles has a distinct focus on a particular aspect of family violence while at the same time highlighting several common themes: the interrelationship between law and social/cultural contexts, the importance of moving beyond overly individualistic assumptions about human behavior, and the importance of procedural fairness and substantive considerations across the varied legal and extralegal contexts in which interpersonal conflicts occur.