The Evolution of Intimate Partner Violence: Origins, Battered Woman Syndrome, and Proposed Solutions

Dublin Core

Title

The Evolution of Intimate Partner Violence: Origins, Battered Woman Syndrome, and Proposed Solutions

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is defined as physical, psychological, or sexual abuse against a current or ex partner. To examine the effects of IPV on female victims and to answer the questions of why women stay in abusive relationships and why some women kill their abusive partners, Lenore Walker developed the theory of Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS). Despite its basis in psychological literature and research, BWS has been more successfully used in the legal field than in psychology. This is because the evolutionary origins and gender-ideologies inherent in marriage, religion, and law led to the social acceptance of IPV for much of history, and the lack of psychologist involvement in reform efforts. BWS greatly improved the legal representation of female IPV victims, especially those who kill their abusive husbands, through the inclusion of BWS expert testimony as evidence in such cases. However, for this improvement to continue, other frameworks of IPV testimony, such as the Social Agency Framework (SAF) and empathy induction instructions, should be examined and combined to address the limitations of each framework. Although public beliefs about IPV have improved, in order to reduce the high rates of IPV and its lethal consequences, legal interventions to IPV should be enhanced through the inclusion of risk-informed, early intervention techniques at the first reported incident of IPV, as well as through the use of therapeutic jurisprudence. In order to implement these large-scale solutions, it is important to first reflect on individual biases and misconceptions about IPV and its victims.

Creator

Mikaela Wells

Date

5/1/2022

Contributor

Drs. Laurence Nolan & Jessica England
Psychology

Rights

U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.

Format

application/pdf

Extent

35 pages

Language

eng

Type

text

Identifier

2022_Psychology_Wells - Jessica England

Rights Holder

Wagner College, Staten Island, NY

Document Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Thesis

Date Digital

2022

Citation

Mikaela Wells, “The Evolution of Intimate Partner Violence: Origins, Battered Woman Syndrome, and Proposed Solutions,” Wagner College Archives and Special Collections, accessed March 28, 2024, https://wagnercollections.omeka.net/items/show/19414.