Group work with men who have committed partner abuse.

Group/Peer Support

April 2021

Full Citation

Schwartz, J. P., & Waldo, M. (2004). Group work with men who have committed partner abuse.

Abstract

In this chapter, the term partner abuse is used to describe abuse in intimate relationships. This term is more inclusive than spouse abuse, and conveys the view that abuse is a behavior rather than a type of person, which is implied by labels such as batterers, perpetrators, offenders, or abusers. The focus of the chapter is on group treatment specifically for heterosexual men who have engaged in abusive behavior toward an intimate partner. There is evidence that men, rather than women, are more likely to perpetuate partner abuse and do more physical damage when they are abusive (Stets & Straus, 1990). While there is a growing body of evidence that women are also involved in partner abuse and may have some of the same motivations and causes for engaging in abusive behavior as men (Hines & Malley-Morrison, 2001; Straus & Gelles, 1990), and there is also evidence in the literature that domestic violence occurs in same-sex relationships at the same rate as heterosexual relationships (Miller, Bobner, & Zarski, 2000), group treatment with these populations has not received the research attention. This chapter focuses on group treatment of heterosexual men who have committed partner abuse because this population has been the focus of the majority of group practice and research (Adams, 1994). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)