M6.1 Discussion: Responses

Please respond to 4 of my classmates posts: Please use the course reading as your source: Gosselin, D. K., & Gosselin, D. K. (2019). Family and intimate partner violence: Heavy hands. Pearson. #1 Nathan Dusett posted The typology of interpersonal violence is best understood by exploring the issues related to violence based in gender. Although violence impacts all individuals, the type and occurrence of violence vary between genders, for example within a couple could be a man being violent towards a woman or another man, or a woman being violent towards a man or another woman. The typology of violent resistance is the more extreme form of interpersonal violence which often ends up in homicide by self defense. Walker, et. al. (2022) details the history of cases in which women murdered their perpetrators in self defense. The authors explore testimony from multiple women who either killed their perpetrator in self defense or were charged with murder in the case of a child being killed and the woman not protecting them (Walker, et. al., 2022). The interesting discussion from the authors also commented that when specifically women commit crimes due to being a victim of violence, they are more likely to be seen as criminals and murderers and less likely to be viewed as survivors of domestic violence (Walker, et.al., 2022). Williamson (2020) reported that research shows that 20–40% of police families experience IPV. A police officer’s exposure to violence, authoritarian training in the police academy, and alcohol abuse all pose as risk factors for an increased risk of IPV in police families (Williamson, 2020). This type of offender would be most difficult to treat in my opinion. This is due to the level of the trauma that police officers may have experienced. This is multilayered because of the training they undergo, the trauma they are exposed to, and other unhealthy coping mechanisms they may engage in. I think treatment can be preventative for these families by starting to address trauma processing for police officers as part of their job experience. #2 Alyssa Davis posted Traditionally, research on intimate partner violence focuses on intervention and treatment for victims. However, prevention may be a better tactic through recognizing characteristics of perpetrators. Some characteristics of violent perpetrators include substance abuse, a need for control, power, or domination through physical or emotional violence, impaired anger management or explosive anger, personality issues that affect regulation, and issues with partner attachment. Power dynamics specifically play a large role within the perpetrator/victim dynamic. Perceived control through violence can cause not only an increase in the frequency of physical assault but also in its severity (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1997). Personally, I believe the Sociopathic batterer described in the text to be the most difficult to treat and prevent due to these types of perpetrators often having diagnosable personality disorders. While there are several personality disorders, they all tend to affect an individual’s way of thinking, feeling, and behaving, causing problems in functioning (Gosselin & Gosselin, 2019). Some examples of sociopathic behavior include lack of empathy, manipulation, impulsivity, aggression, and lack of remorse (Drescher, 2022). These patterns of behavior could understandably cause unhealthy relationship behavior patterns, especially without proper intervention. Sociopathic batterers also tend to have issues with substance abuse, which may exacerbate any mental health disorders or behaviors. Due to the nature of these characteristics and patterns of behavior, these perpetrators have a higher likelihood of violence and subsequently, arrest. Some interventions for perpetrators with personality disorders, as well as substance abuse issues, can include crisis intervention, Betterer Intervention, fostering accountability, substance abuse intervention, fostering bonding relationships with peers, parenting support if they have children, and other ongoing support after initial interventions. Some batterer programs have started aftercare services, similar to a 12-step program in substance abuse interventions, that promote accountability through mentorship (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1997). #3 Christina Langille posted According to Gosselin (2019), the most dangerous group of abusers is an antisocial batterer. They are abusers who have a diagnosable mental health condition and substance abuse issues, they also are very likely to have criminal records. Sometimes violent outside of the home also, these batterers may have issues completing a batterers program without other mental health supports for anything from antisocial personality disorder to anxiety and are behaviorally very volatile (NCBI,1997). According to Wendy Patrick (2018), antisocial abusers tend to be more psychologically abusive, displayed more risk factors for abuse, are younger and more likely to commit deadly abuse compared with family-only abusers. I feel that due to there being an underlying mental health issue and drug abuse it is one that will be the hardest to treat to resolution. Seeing personality disorders as a possible cause, I wonder what the best way would be to treat an antisocial batterer. Personality disorders are hard to treat but typically use some sort of cognitive behavioral therapeutic approach. #4Mandy Ives posted Intimate Violence Typology As discussed in Johnson peer-reviewed article and the Peace Institute website where Johnson is also quoted, there are three main types of abusers. The first is the “Intimate Terrorism” abuser who has a pattern of violent coercive control, which is predominantly carried out by men. The second is “Violet Resistance” abuse which is perpetrated while resisting violence in self-defense and primarily is women. The third is “Situation Couple Violence” abuse which escalates from an argument to physical aggression and occurs between couples. As discussed in our text (Gosselin 2019) most perpetrators are men, although some women do offend. There are two styles of offender, both groups use violence as a method to respond to intolerable emotions of anxiety or anger. They are also unable to understand and recognize the impact of the violence on their partner. These two types are tyrannical offending versus exploder offending. As described in our text, the characteristics of the tyrannical offender are that he knows what he is doing and uses these actions to frighten, intimidate, and punish his partner. He justifies his as an understandable response to frustration and anger. He also tends to minimize the violence by admitting to verbal abuse. His partner is described as submissive and careful around him. The exploder offender uses the violence to get distance from his partner and silence her. He will usually acknowledge the violence but will blame his partner for provoking him. There is also the sociopathic batterer who is the type of offender who is likely to have a diagnosed or diagnosable personality disorder or an issue with some kind of substance abuse. Threats to kill or commit more violence usually are associated with this type of offender, who normally will make sexual demands after committing the violence. These types of perpetrators do not apologize and will often use religious beliefs to justify their actions. The antisocial batterer is someone much like the sociopathic batterer who is more likely to also have a criminal record. Type of Offender described in your text that you believe to be the most difficult to treat and prevent. I believe that the sociopathic and antisocial batterer would be the most difficult type of offender to treat and prevent offending in the future. This is a person who is already dealing with a diagnosed personality disorder, who may or may not be taking medication, or who may refuse to take medication. These types of perpetrators are unforgiving in their actions and are considered the most dangerous group of offenders. As many of these types of offenders also have addiction issues, it becomes very challenging trying to work through addiction and IPV at the same time. As discussed in the article from the National Library of Medicine, it has been “observed that the violent behavior of a batterer client can interfere with his treatment for substance abuse, and conversely, his substance abuse can interfere with interventions aimed at changing his violent behavior (Bennett, 1995). Clients who are incarcerated, for example, or accused of assault or murder have limited access to substance abuse treatment.” In addition, if perpetrators are incarcerated their access to mental health treatment and therapy would also be limited. This would conclude that upon their release, their odds of repeating their violent behaviors would be very high.