Mary M. Cavanaugh

The Utility of Male Domestic Violence Offender Typologies New Directions for Research, Policy, and Practice

The development of empirically based behavioral and psychological typologies provides clear evidence that offenders vary across types. A review and synthesis of the literature reveals three types of batterers common across current typology research—a low, moderate, and high-risk offender. Examination of these types demonstrates that most male offenders do not escalate over time from low to high levels of risk. This observation refutes previous claims regarding a common consensus among researchers that battering escalates in frequency and intensity over time. There are particular characteristics specific to each type that establish thresholds distinct to each classification. Thus, it is unlikely that an offender will move from one type to another. Interventions targeted to address the needs of subsamples of offenders can lead to more effectively protecting those most at risk for future violence. Addressing the issue of woman battering through the prism of typologies has significant implications for research, policy, and practice.

Family Violence among Adults with Severe Mental Illness A Neglected Area of Research

Violence against family caregivers by their adult relatives with severe mental illness is a taboo area of public discourse and scientific research because of fears of further stigmatizing this population. Yet, these families experience violence at a rate estimated to be between 10% and 40%, which is considerably higher than the general population. This article reviews the limited research on violence of adults with severe mental illness against their family caregivers and proposes a conceptual framework that can further stimulate study in an area that has been neglected too long by both mental health and family violence investigators. Research on this topic is essential in developing effective policy and practice interventions.

Theories of Violence: Social Science Perspectives

The articles in this Special Issue provide an overview of some of the major social science perspectives regarding violence in sociology, psychology, anthropology, and political economy. An analysis and a synthesis of these fields of study as they pertain to violence reveal common themes. This paper attempts to examine conceptual commonalities and distinctions across these academic disciplines in an attempt to weave an integrated framework that may elucidate our theoretical understanding of violence. An integrative conceptual framework that highlights shared factors across social science disciplines may further illuminate our understanding of the multidisciplinary correlates of violence and, therefore, assist instructors, practitioners, and researchers in the identification and application of core theoretical concepts that underlie social science explanations of violence; thereby assisting social work students to better understand the interactions between of human behavior and the social environment.

The Dialectical Psychoeducational Workshop (DPEW) The Conceptual Framework and Curriculum for a Preventative Intervention for Males at Risk for IPV

Current programs aimed at reducing intimate partner violence (IPV) have demonstrated little effect on at-risk males, who may potentially engage in acts of IPV. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides the conceptual and empirical foundation for the dialectical psychoeducational workshop (DPEW). The DPEW offers a targeted preventative intervention for individuals potentially at risk for IPV. This article offers the rationale and theoretical basis for a specialized preventative approach to IPV and delineates a brief psychoeducational program that may stimulate further research and provide an alternate preventative intervention strategy in an area in need of innovative programs.