Identification of Patterns of Wife Abuse

• NCJ Number: 130614
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 187-204
• Author(s): D R Follingstad; J E Laughlin; D S Polek; L L Rutledge; E S Hause
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Cluster analysis was used to identify typologies of 234 battered women. The results were compared to the cluster analysis conducted by Snyder and Fruchtman in 1981 of battered women in a shelter.

Abstract

The present study, based on data collected from structured interviews, included additional factors related to wife abuse and new clusters were established. The five new clusters identified the beliefs, reasons victims had for staying in the relationship, abuse histories as children, willingness to use resources, ability to predict violence, presence of emotional abuse, and assertiveness among the different clusters. The authors suggest that interventions need to be targeted differently for each cluster of victims using various combinations of medical and therapeutic treatment, court interventions, and vocational training. 2 tables and 29 references (Author abstract)