Women and Domestic Violence

Abstract

The 1970s saw a shift of focus by professions responding to domestic violence cases perpetrated by men towards women within Australia. Their focus was targeted at the factors that surround male perpetrators’ violent behaviour. As a result, a number of alternative interventions were established based on a new understanding of domestic violence. Wider explanations have therefore led professional groups to form different angles of approach. Consequently researchers have found that perceptions towards domestic violence and the effective reness of relevant in terventions remain controversial across professions (Laing, 2002). Based on the literature supporting the importance of consistent professional perceptions and responses towards domestic violence, the current qualitative research aimed to measure the consistency of perceptions across five Perth professional groups: Police, community-based, women’s refuge, justice and health professionals (N: 39). Participant responses (from survey and interview questions) about the causal explanations of domestic violence were measured in terms of their relationship with views on effective interventions. Consistent attitudes towards domestic violence were identified on a number of levels. All participants agreed that domestic violence is a community problem, a criminal offence and should not be tolerated. A perpetrator’s socio economic status or the degree of alcohol consumption was notfound to be causal explanations of domestically violent behaviour. Participants acknowledged that they are significant factors in cases, and hence conclude that these factors are a stimulus behind the violence. The majority of participants supportedpsychological/feminist/sociological 3) recently suggested reliable theories, specifically the ‘Interactive Systems and Individual’ theory of domestic violence. Also, with recommendations and explanations from the Best Practice.