Lenore E. Walker

Psychology and violence against women

The discipline of psychology has made many contributions to the understanding of the social problem of mens violence against women during the past 15 years by reframing the problem as one of misuse of power by men who have been socialized into believing they are entitled to control the women in their lives, even by violent means. The new scientific psychology data base formed by integrating feminist gender analysis methods into more traditional psychological methodology is discussed, as are the implications of the resulting empirical data on which are based newer assessment, treatment, and forensic applications. A review of the major psychological advances in psychotherapy with women who have been sexual assaulted, exploited, and battered is presented, as well as implications for national policy. The feminist model presented is one in which science and practice concerns are carefully considered at all steps of the process. The article concludes with a discussion of the challenges involved in making the future training of psychologists more relevant to womens mental health concerns.

Psychology and domestic violence around the world

Psychologists around the world have made contributions in research, clinical assessment, and intervention and prevention of domestic violence. Although each country has unique factors that determine the services and resources available to battered women, children exposed to domestic violence, and abusive partners, it is the interaction among gender, political structure, religious beliefs, attitudes toward violence in general, and violence toward women, as well as state-sponsored violence, such as civil conflicts and wars, and the migration within and between countries that ultimately determine womens vulnerability and safety. This article reviews the latest psychological research and applications to intervention and prevention programs. An introduction to the various articles that compose this international perspectives section is also included. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Stalking and domestic violence.

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the identification of domestic violence as a major social, legal, and health problem with the potential to destroy millions of families. Domestic violence has been conceptualized as an abusers attempt to use physical, sexual, or psychological force to take away a womans power and control over her life. The studies of damaging relationships have elucidated the dynamics that force their progress until the woman feels like she has become imprisoned. Most battering relationships do end in divorce, often putting the woman at the highest risk for further harm or actual death from the point of separation to about 2 years postdivorce. Stalking is the name given to a grouping of behaviors that batterers do to keep the relationship between themselves and their partners from being detached. The battered womans checklist presented in this chapter often helps a battered woman or her family and friends to evaluate whether there is abuse in the relationship. The mandatory reporting laws for domestic violence and subsequent court ordered treatment programs in the United States have recently provided better access to the understanding of abusive men.

Battered woman syndrome: empirical findings

Abstract:  The construct of Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) has been conceptualized as a subcategory of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is composed of the following symptoms: (a) re‐experiencing the battering as if it were reoccurring even when it is not, (b) attempts to avoid the psychological impact of battering by avoiding activities, people, and emotions, (c) hyperarousal or hypervigilance, (d) disrupted interpersonal relationships, (e) body image distortion or other somatic concerns, and (f) sexuality and intimacy issues. This article presents empirical data derived from administering the Battered Woman Syndrome Questionnaire (BWSQ) to women of four countries—United States, Spain, Greece, and Russia. The data support a theory of BWS.

A Critical Analysis of Parental Alienation Syndrome and Its Admissibility in the Family Court

Abstract Over the past three decades, parental alienation syndrome (PAS) has been proposed to explain behaviors by a child who refuses to spend time with a parent and actually denigrates that parent within the context of a child custody dispute. Although some mental health professionals and child custody evaluators, attorneys, and judges have been quick to accept and admit PAS as evidence in these disputes, there has been no consistent empirical or clinical evidence that PAS exists or that the alienators behavior is the actual cause of the alienated childs behavior towards the target parent. This article attempts to help those working with custody issues understand how the PAS construct fails to meet scientific standards and should not be admissible in courts.

Parental Alienation Disorder: Why Label Children with a Mental Diagnosis?

The proposal to include Parental Alienation Disorder (PAD) in the new proposed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) creates a host of problems. The first major problem is the labeling of children with a mental disorder who may simply be reacting with anger to the changes in their lives from the separation and divorce of their parents by rejecting one parent and aligning with the other. Diagnosis may bring with it shame and have a chilling impact on parents report of domestic violence. Although proponents of PAD are aware that it is inappropriate to diagnose children who have been exposed to child abuse and/or domestic violence with PAD, they do not clarify how to make such differential diagnoses. It is suggested that there are insufficient empirical data to differentiate abused and traumatized children from those who are alienated or estranged from the rejected parent. Nor are there sufficient scientific data to account for other child vulnerabilities such as neurological immaturity, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), other anxiety and mood disorders, or oppositional defiant disorder. There are too few comparisons between the risks and benefits of adding a new diagnosis of childhood disorders to justify its inclusion in the DSM-V. Appropriate intervention strategies recommended for PAD children include contact with the rejected parent, which differ widely from trauma victim/survivors who need assurance of safety and healing before contact is re-established. Ethical standards that may be impacted by this new diagnosis and admissibility issues raised by its predecessor, Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), are also discussed by the authors.

Feminist therapy perspectives on self disclosure

Unlike many other theories of psychotherapy, feminist therapy theory has from its inception promulgated the idea that self-disclosure by the therapist may be a valuable part of the therapy process (Greenspan, 1986). This concept appears in some of the earliest literature addressing the nature of the client-therapist relationship in feminist therapy (Mander & Rush, 1974; Lerman, 1976; Rawlings & Carter, 1977), and has continued to form a core of the feminist therapy mandate to empower clients, as well as heal their wounds. Guidelines for the use of self-disclosure can be found in the Ethical Code of the Feminist Therapy Institute (FTI), which specifically refers to ethical ways in which self-disclosure can and should be used by a therapist (Feminist Therapy Ethical Code, 1987), and discussion of the implementation of this code and its norms is ongoing (Lerman & Porter, 1990). This proactive embrace of self-disclosure is unique among theories of psychotherapy, and reflects certain core tenets of feminist therapy theory regarding the relationship of client and therapist and the role of the therapist in the healing process.

Response to Johnston and Kelly Critique of PAS Article

Abstract This article is a response to Johnston and Kelly (2004), who critiqued our original article that criticized the theory and models that have utilized the non-empirically validated construct of Parental Alienation Syndrome. We acknowledge the areas of agreement with Johnston and Kelly, further explain some of our arguments that were not clear in the original article, and outline the few remaining areas where we have different opinions. These different opinions are almost exclusively in the attempts to apply the constructs of alienation to children who are exposed to domestic violence in their homes. Here we argue that the definitions must be more uniform with those used by the domestic violence field of study in order to better understand how to apply the results of Johnston and Kellys empirical Studies that they describe.

Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is the point at which psychology meets the law, and while this may sound simplistic or specific, the specialty is diverse and often complex. Psychologists typically use the scientific method of induction to understand human behavior, while lawyers use the deductive method of inquiry to understand legal issues. So how do we work together and answer legal questions through the practice of psychology? This introductory chapter serves as an overview of the field. History of forensic psychology will be discussed, including where it originated and how it has grown to the specialty it is today. Also covered is relevant case law that has helped the specialty develop over time, along with key definitions. The many areas where forensic psychologists work, and ways in which they accomplish their tasks and serve in their roles, will be outlined and summarized.

Best Practices in Law Enforcement Crisis Interventions with the Mentally Ill

This chapter describes the BPM for teaching police to recognize and avoid arresting the mentally ill and getting them the appropriate mental health services.