Clinical and Courtroom Application of Battered Women's Personality Assessments (From Domestic Violence on Trial, P 86-94, 1987, Daniel Jay Sonkin, ed. - See NCJ-104721)

• NCJ Number: 104727
• Author(s): L B Rosewater
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Copter's Incorporated
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Personality assessments, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), can provide a useful tool for educating juries, judges, clinicians, and clients about the dynamics of the victims of domestic violence.

Abstract

Because psychological test data are quantifiable and objective, they lend added credibility to the expert witness' testimony and provide a graphic means of presenting information about the defendant's functioning to the judge and jury. Use of the MMPI validity scales can provide evidence of the honesty of the test-taker, thus lending support to the defendant's story. In addition, scores on the clinical scales and subscales can be used to support a diagnosis of battered women syndrome. MMPI profiles for battered women can help elucidate the effects of repeated victimization on the defendant's self-image, ego strength, coping ability, and feelings of efficacy. Test results indicating the guilt, self-blame, and fearfulness experienced by these women also can provide an explanation for the victim's having remained in the abusive relationship and for her perceived need for self-defense. 23 references.