The impact of a treatment program for male batterers on their sex role attitudes and abusive behaviors
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the success of a program for batterers, Brother to Brother. Primary program goals include reducing abusive behavior and reducing adherence to traditional gender role attitudes by program participants. Program theory links traditional attitudes to abusive behavior. The evaluation provided an opportunity for assessing the validity of a gender role analysis of battering.^ It was hypothesized that abusive behavior and traditional attitudes would decrease over the 21 weeks of program participation. A group of program completers (N = 89) and a group of noncompleters (N = 103) comprised the sample. Most participants were under court mandate to seek treatment. The sample was primarily European-American, married or living with their partner, and raising children. Their mean age was 34 years. The Brannon Masculinity Scale (BMS), the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS), and a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) were self-administered during their first, then during their last (21st), group session. Demographic information was obtained during their first session. In the second and final group meetings, research participants responded to qualitative and quantitative questions about a hypothetical abusive incident. In weeks 3 to 20, an abusive behavior checklist was completed. The partners of a subsample of completers (N = 29) were telephoned post-treatment and completed the CTS, describing the batterers behavior during treatment.^ As predicted, completers made significant changes in their behaviors and attitudes. The BMS was a significant predictor of physically abusive behavior pre-treatment; each attitudinal measure had approximately equal utility for predicting physically abusive behavior post-treatment. Neither attitudinal measure predicted verbal abuse. Partners' reports of batterers' verbally abusive behavior was significantly greater than batterers' self-reports. It was clear from the weekly checklist that, in general, verbally abusive behavior continued throughout the treatment program. There were few demographic differences between completers and noncompleters, or between clients voluntarily seeking treatment and those under court mandate to participate in the program.^ The implications for future research and program development are discussed, including the utility of the "repercussions" measure developed as a modification of the CTS, and the need for a lengthier period of treatment and follow-up services. ^
Subject Area
Psychology, Social|Psychology, General|Sociology, Criminology and Penology
Recommended Citation
Donna Caldwell,
"The impact of a treatment program for male batterers on their sex role attitudes and abusive behaviors"
(1992).
Dissertations and Master's Theses (Campus Access).
Paper AAI9316572.
http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/dissertations/AAI9316572