Transmission Of Violence Research Articles

‘Potentially violent men?’: teenage boys, access to refuges and constructions of men, masculinity and violence

This article discusses the challenges of meeting the needs of teenage boys who become homeless as a result of domestic violence. In particular it focuses upon the impact of age limitation policies upon teenage boys, which many refuges still operate. It considers the reasons for these policies which, it is argued, still include reliance upon so-called ‘cycle of violence’ or ‘intergenerational transmission of violence’ theories. It is argued that such theories are problematic as they correlate being a man and being violent. Consequently, teenage boys of violent men are constructed as ‘potentially violent’. The ways in which absent fathers are discursively constructed as responsible for any possible future violent, criminal behaviour of their sons is also problematised. Such assumptions which presume a casual effect between absent fathers and the future behaviour of teenage boys, are argued to be part of the reason why theories, such as the ‘cycle of violence’, persist. The article contends that there is a need for more adequate theorising of the relationship between men, boys and violence. It also argues that access to refuge service provision should be based solely on physical and economic resource constraints, and not by reference to such problematic theories.

An Exploratory Study of Women as Dominant Aggressors of Physical Violence in Their Intimate Relationships

In the last 20 years, research has emerged that suggests that women may be violent in intimate relationships. This article describes a qualitative study focusing on women who were classified as dominant aggressors of violence in their intimate relationships. Ten subjects participated in a detailed clinical interview and completed five written measures to examine the factors that led to their later aggression, including sociocultural factors, history of trauma, gender role identification, and intergenerational transmission of violence. Seven major themes emerged, including a history of victimization and trauma, substance abuse, and a history of violence across relationships and situations. These results suggest that the violence committed by dominantly aggressive women may be explained by an integrated conceptual framework of domestic violence.

Intergenerational Transmission of Violence: the Influence of Self-Appraisals, Mental Disorders and Substance Abuse

Although research has demonstrated connections between experiencing abuse as a child and being in a violent relationship as an adult, the specific mechanisms through which this transmission occurs are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between certain personal factors (self-appraisals and mental/substance use disorders) and experiencing violence as an adult. Data from the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) 1990–1992 were utilized. Respondents who reported experiencing childhood abuse or victimization and were in a current intimate partnership (N = 590) were selected for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that low self-esteem, past year PTSD, and past year alcohol dependence were significantly associated with intimate partner violence after controlling for other self-appraisals and mental disorders.

Role Reversals in the Life-Course: A Systematic Review

In this manuscript, we systematically review the literature on role reversals in the life-course. The term “role reversals” in this context means changes between the roles of offender and victim (and vice versa) over time. The majority of the literature focuses on the complex relationship between victim and offender in violent situations. The phrases “violence begets violence” or the “transgenerational transmission of violence” center on the relationship between early childhood victimization and future adult offending. The topics of study vary in terms of subject matter, but the general assumption is that in a culture of violence, victims become offenders and offenders become victims. The role reversals literature establishes such a relationship, but as Widom (1988, 1989b, 1996) and others point out (United States General Accounting Office, 1996) there are methodological shortcomings with the research—thus the findings should be viewed as inconclusive. In this paper, we review the role reversals literature published since 1989, providing summary information about the research, and analyzing it from a methodological perspective. There are several variables of interest that must be present in order for a study to be deemed “sound” in its methodology. These are (1) a valid research design that employs a control group, (2) use of a data collection technique that does not rely on retrospective self-reports, (3) uniformity in the definition of the victimization/offense studied, and (4) the avoidance of cross-sectional designs. With these criteria, we find that only two studies can be described as having methodological rigor. The other studies reviewed all have some deficiencies—making the studies less than sound and thus calling into question the findings.

Exposure to violence at home: A qualitative exploration of experiences and perceptions of black adolescents in South Africa

Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with black adolescent males and females in a South African township to explore their experiences and perceptions of domestic violence in their homes of origin and in their intimate relationships. Trauma theory and social learning theory were used to explore the influence of exposure to violence at home on violent behavior in subsequent relationships. Findings indicate that observational learning contributes to post-traumatic stress and dating violence among adolescents in South Africa. Some of the predictions of the intergenerational transmission of violence were also supported by the respondents’ experiences and perceptions of violence within their own relationships. There was evidence of socialized gendered notions of male power and control, where violence is used to affirm masculinity.

Abusive Narratives: Antjie Krog, Rian Malan, and the Transmission of Violence

In appraisals of Antjie Krog's Country of My Skull, critics reiterate the failures of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and criticize Krog's use of victim testimonies. Critics have paid particular attention to the ways in which Krog moves between multiple subject positions as a white South African woman, a journalist, and an Afrikaner. These conflictual positionings are, in part, held responsible for what is seen as her inability to deal critically with the failures of the TRC. While there is certainly merit to these readings of Krog, this essay explores methods of reading Krog's memoir beyond her controversial use of testimonies. As a radio journalist, Krog captures the importance of media processes in constituting sites of witnessing. Specifically, she underlines the importance of the broadcast system that carried out the testifying voice and created communities of listeners. In reading Country of My Skull alongside Rian Malan's My Traitor's Heart, another contentious memoir about apartheid, I suggest that narratives reporting the aftermath of violence on people may inherently always betray victims since writers and readers invariably move to forms of closure. It is important then that readerly sensibilities to apparatuses of transmission are interrogated.

Transmission of Violence: The Legacy of Colonialism in Guam and the Path to Peace

The Western Pacific island of Guam, located in Micronesia has a long history of colonisation. Through centuries of warfare, violence, disease, subjugation, and disregard for basic human rights and freedom, the indigenous Chamoru people have been wounded and defeated in innumerable ways. They have persevered and survived throughout the centuries, despite their traumatic history, but not without consequences. This theoretical article explores those consequences and the traumatic ‘debris’ within the context of traumatology and post-traumatic stress disorder literature, the Jewish Holocaust experience, and the modern sociopolitical atmosphere on Guam. Finally, some recommendations that have themes of empowerment, reparations, cultural renaissance, and rebirth are offered to restore balance and peace to the lives of the native Chamoru of today's Guam.

Discussion of Rapadas: Transmission of Violence: Parallels to Latinos in the United States

In his article, Dr Rapadas provides a serious and thoughtful look into the traumatisation of an indigenous community. The article serves as a reminder of our history and as a call to those who believe that peace and justice are worthy and noble goals. The article also provides striking parallels to the struggles of Latinos, particularly Mexican Americans, in the United States.

Incidence of Child and Adolescent Abuse among Incarcerated Females in the Northeast of Brazil

The intergenerational transmission of violence and the tendency for abused and neglected children to become abusers, delinquents, and violent offenders in their adult life is an important field to be understood. It is also important to understand these backgrounds to guide future preventative interventions. Through a cross-sectional study, the occurrence of abuse during childhood and adolescence of adult women incarcerated in a female state prison at Recife in northeast Brazil was investigated. Among 219 prisoners, 190 accepted to join the research; 149 were young women (23-27 years) with severe educational deficiency. Living in poor socioeconomical conditions with problematic and violent familiar relations, 116 (61 per cent) left home at the end of their adolescence and the same number reported having been abused (p < 0.000015). There was a statistical significance between the abuses suffered and witnessed by the subjects and the perpetration of abuse against children and adolescents by themselves (p < 0.0022 and p < 0.0000049). Parents were the most frequent perpetrators (37.4 per cent). Sexual activity and use of legal and illegal drugs occurred early in adolescence. The group also had a family history of violence. Based on the analysed data of this studied group, the authors assumed that the abuse suffered in childhood and adolescence of these women drove them to be abusers in adult life and could have been a predictive marker for their conduct disorders and subsequent criminal behavior.

Dating violence through the lens of adolescent romantic relationships.

The articles in the focus section of this issue center on a particular form of relationship violence that occurs during a particularly challenging developmental period: adolescence. Although large-scale surveys have documented the prevalence of abuse in teen dating relationships (i.e. more than 25% of male and female high school students report having experienced some form of physical abuse in a dating relationship; Foshee 1996; OKeefe 1997) it often escapes attention or concern. Presumably the laissez-faire attitude that has long existed toward many of the struggles of adolescence reflects the dismissive way we often treat teens attempts at finding romantic love. Although many of us have overlooked its developmental significance until very recently researchers and practitioners who have an interest in child maltreatment have the least difficulty grasping the importance of dating violence in the transmission of violence and abuse across the life span. Violence and abuse toward an intimate partner is arguably the most common form of violence in society (Wolfe Wekerle & Scott 1997). Broadly defined it encompasses any attempt to control or dominate another person physically sexually or psychologically resulting in harm. However how do violence and abuse develop? Are they so common that they should be considered developmentally normal or are they connected to important individual family and cultural experiences that can be addressed earlier on? These are some of the critical questions raised by these provocative articles which we would like to emphasize in our commentary. (excerpt)

Child Witnesses of Violence Between Parents: Psychosocial Correlates and Implications for Treatment

Witnessing marital aggression between parents is a risk factor for the intergenerational transmission of violence as well as for a wide range of behavioral and emotional difficulties. The literature on the psychosocial correlates of witnessing spouse abuse is reviewed, and assessment and treatment strategies targeting this population are presented.

The Evolution of a Group for Young Children Who Have Witnessed Family Violence

Chldren who have witnessed their mothers being abused by fathers learn aggressive or passive methods of dealing with conflict that leave them at risk for responding with violence or being victimized in their adult relationships. Early intervention holds the promise of short-cutting this intergenerational transmission of violence through teaching alternative means of problem resolution. This paper describes the development of a group for young children, aged 5 to 7 years, that addresses the conflict resolution and safety skills that may be necessary when living in a home where violence has been a problem. Previous groups designed for older children were too didactic and conceptually-based for these younger children. The current group uses storybooks to introduce important issues and the children develop and act out stories related to the feelings and problems discussed.

Pathways to Criminal Violence

Drugs and Violent Crime - Paul J Goldstein Alcohol and Interpersonal Violence - James J Collins Less Than Meets the Eye Sexual Criminal Violence - Duncan Chappell Mental Disorder and Violent Crime - Robert J Menzies and Christopher D Webster The Intergenerational Transmission of Violence - Cathy Spatz Widom The Experiences of Violent and Serious Victimization - Gary D Gottfredson