Is Domestic Violence Learned? The Contribution of Five Forms of Child Maltreatment to Men's Violence and Adjustment

• NCJ Number: 196316
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 223-245
• Author(s): Emma Bevan; Daryl J. Higgins
• Date Published: September 2002
• Length: 23 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research Paper
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study showed the relationships between the level of child maltreatment and the level of physical and psychological spouse abuse perpetrated by 36 men with histories of domestic violence who had attended counseling.

Abstract

For purposes of this study, child maltreatment included physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and witnessing family violence. The study showed the relationships between the level of child maltreatment and childhood family characteristics, current alcohol abuse, trauma symptomatology, and the level of physical and psychological spouse abuse perpetrated by 36 men with histories of domestic violence who had attended counseling. Child maltreatment, low family cohesion and adaptability, and alcohol abuse overlap were significantly associated with frequency of physical spouse abuse and symptomatology scores, but not psychological spouse abuse. Childhood neglect uniquely predicted the level of physical spouse abuse; witnessing family violence had a unique association with psychological spouse abuse and trauma symptomatology. The study claims that these results challenge the understanding of domestic violence obtained from the learning theory, which is the traditional approach to studying men's domestic violence. Tables, references