NCJ Number
164853
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 459-474
Date Published
1996
Length
16 pages
Annotation
In-depth interviews with 40 spouses (20 couples) who remained together after the men physically abused their wives were analyzed to identify strategies used in the aftermath of violence to confine the event and allow for the continuation of life together.
Abstract
An in-depth, semi-structured interview was conducted, based on an interview guide that addressed the following 10 themes related to the context and situation of the violence: division of responsibilities and decisionmaking, activities done together, activities done separately, children and child rearing, disagreements, violent conflicts, life after violent events, family origin, the availability of formal and informal support, and future relationship with spouse. On each of these themes, various questions were asked in relation to timing, location, participants, and an overall description of violent situations. Findings show that for couples where the wife actively rejected violence, she used various interrelated spatio-temporal and audience-related strategies to change the power balance and reframe the event. In those couples where the woman accepted violence, continuity was emphasized and little, if any, effort was invested in "bounding" the violent event, which was thus minimized and made part of daily existence. "Bounding" is suggested as a useful concept for understanding the dynamics of dyadic life following violence. 56 references