Understanding Family Violence

Treating and Preventing Partner, Child, Sibling and Elder Abuse

Vernon R. Wiehe

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Year: 1998
• Print ISBN: 9780761916451
• eBook ISBN: 9781452264783
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Interpersonal Relations in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Providing an arresting and readable overview of family violence, Understanding Family Violence presents a thorough exploration of the major types of family violence and details the range of abusive behaviors perpetrated within family systems. Author Vernon R. WieheÆs extensive study of family violence includes partner abuse in gay and lesbian relationships, battered husbands, sibling abuse, marital rape, response patterns of battered women, the cycle of violence, preconditions of child sexual abuse, emotional abuse, effects of abuse on victims, treatment of offenders, and much more. Case vignettes are used effectively throughout this text to describe violent events and to illustrate the victimsÆ experience and perception of the abuse. Focusing on prevention and intervention, chapters delineate reasons that various types of abuse continue, suggest how different types of violent behavior may be treated, and recommends prevention strategies. In addition, the author has created a comprehensive and cohesive volume by carefully defining terms at the beginning of each chapter and offering summarizing remarks, valuable references, and suggested readings at the conclusion of each chapter. Understanding Family Violence translates theory and research into a practical format, easily accessible to undergraduate and graduate students in areas including psychology, counseling, sociology, social work, nursing, family studies, and pastoral counseling. While the book is an overview and not intended as a "how-to" book, any practitioner engaged in an empirically based practice will find Vernon R. WieheÆs insight invaluable.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Preface
• Chapter 1 - Aggression
• Definition of Terms
• Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression
• Summary
• Chapter 2 - Child Abus IS Definition of Terms
• The Extent of Child Maltreatment
• Historical Perspective
• Understanding Child Physical Abuse
• Factors Associated With Emotiona l Abuse
• Factors Associated With Child Sexual Abuse
• Four Preconditions of Child Sexual Abuse
• Feminist Perspectives on Child Sexua l Abuse
• Responding to Child Abuse
• Effects of Abuse on the Victims
• Treating Child Abuse
• Treatment of Adult Survivors
• Megan's Law
• Treatment of Offenders
• Treatment Issues Relative to Race and Culture
• Preventing Child Abuse
• Summary
• Suggested Reading
• Chapter 3 - Partner Abuse
• Definition of Terms
• Marital Rape
• Partner Abuse in Gay and Lesbian Relationships
• Battered Husbands
• Incidence of Abuse
• Understanding Partner Abuse
• The Cycle of Violence
• Effects of Abuse on the Victim
• Impact of the Abuse on Children
• Response Patterns of Abused Women
• The Perpetrators
• Treatment of Perpetrators
• Evaluation of Treatment Programs
• Services for the Victim
• Preventing Partner Abuse
• Summary
• Suggested Reading
• Chapter 4 - Elder Abuse
• Definition of Terms
• Abuse in Nursing Homes
• Incidence of Abuse
• Theoretical Factors for Understanding Elder Abuse
• The Victims
• The Perpetrators
• Assessing and Intervening in Elder Abuse
• Preventing Elder Abuse
• Summary
• Suggested Reading
• Chapter 5 - Sibling Abuse
• The Research Participants
• Incidence of Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Survivors ' Responses to Their Sexual Abuse
• Sexual Curiosity
• Parental Awareness of Sibling Abuse
• Parental Reactions to Sibling Abuse
• Understanding Sibling Abuse
• Effects of Abuse on the Survivor
• Distinguishing Abusive Behavior From Normal Behavior
• Problem Solving as an Intervention in Sibling Abuse
• Treating Survivors
• Preventing Sibling Abuse
• Summary
• Suggested Reading
• References
• Index
• About the Author