Understanding Domestic Violence: Assessment and Intervention
School
California Southern University**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PSYCHOLOGY 7517
Subject
Psychology
Date
Dec 11, 2024
Pages
11
Uploaded by kmzilch
1Activity 11: Domestic Violence Assessment and InterventionKelly MunozSchool of Behavioral Science, California Southern UniversityPSY7728-8A: Psychology of Violence and Domestic Abuse ReportingDr. Melissa PerezOctober 19, 2024
2Scenario One – CharlesIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a severe issue which affects individuals across all demographics. Scenario one involves Charles, a 28-year-old Native American man who exhibits violent behavior toward his ex-girlfriend. This analysis will begin by assessing the indicators of IPV, identifying intervention strategies, and proposing prevention methods while considering relevant California laws and cultural contexts.Charles exhibits multiple violent behaviors, including threats to burn his ex-girlfriend’s house and setting fire to her deck. This behavior is characteristic of physical and psychological aggression (Black et al., 2020). IPV perpetrators are often people who use a pattern of coercive control in a partner relationship, followed by one or more acts of intimidating physical violence, sexual assault or credible threat of physical violence (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Furthermore, risk factors such as alcohol consumption is often linked to increased aggression and violence in relationships (Fals-Stewart et al., 2021). To fully understand Charles’s actions, it would be important to assess for prior history of violence, relationship stress, and possible mental health issues.Immediate response would be first priority when considering the safety of his ex-girlfriend. California provides victims with immediate protection through restraining orders. A restraining order can prohibit contact and provide legal avenues for enforcement (California Domestic Violence, 2018). Law enforcement should be involved in assess the situation, which will likely lead to the arrest of Charles due to the criminal nature of his actions including arson and property damage. Charles will also need to be provided with mental health resources to focuson two areas, substance abuse and anger management. Charles could benefit from therapy to assist him in identifying and altering harmful thought patterns. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has
3shown to be effective when working with individuals with aggressive behaviors. Charles’s will likely need legal representation to address his criminal charges. Restorative justice is not likely to be considered in this situation as Charles committed a violent crime.Preventing IPV requires raising awareness and providing access to community education programs. Program should be made available to individuals which are specific to their cultural context, such as those of Nave American communities. Providing cultural appropriate support will lead to better understanding and encourage individuals to seek help when needed. Support networks such as domestic violence shelters and support groups provide emotional support safetyplanning and can provide access to legal aid.Scenario Two – GeraldIPV is often rooted in complex psychological, social, and economic factors. As we see with Gerald, a 35-year-old African American man experienced a challenging upbring and was frequently witness to his mother being physically and verbally abused by his father. We will analyze the theoretical explanation for his aggressive behavior toward his own wife, discuss relevant assessment, interventions and prevention strategies.Gerald is demonstrating intergenerational transmission of family violence and as we can see the trauma he experienced as a child from his mother being victim of IPV as lead to the negative outcome of his abuse toward is own wife (Livings et al., 2023). This is also an example of the cycle of violence theory. This theory suggests those individuals who are raised in violent households are more likely to engage in similar behaviors in adulthood (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Gerald also reflects a learned response to conflict, his external influence of his father’s behavior has led Gerald to internalize these aggressive behaviors as an acceptable response. There is also a presence of internal conflict. Gerald is feeling inadequate and frustrated, which
4aligns with IPV’s emotional and psychological explanation (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Gerald attempted to cope with his emotions by drinking alcohol. This maladaptive coping strategy likelyled to his violent behavior.I will now move on to assessing for risk of future violence. Dangerousness assessment instruments have been used to build safety plans and also to identify risk of reoffending (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Factors such as substance abuse, financial stress, and relationships dynamics will be discussed when completing a Danger Assessment. Psychological evaluations will help in detecting underlying mental health issues as well as co-occurring conditions related to substance use and mental health issue.Gerald could benefit from multiple interventions. First CBT, which is an evidenced basedapproach and is effective in helping individuals recognize maladaptive patterns of thought. Couples therapy may provide assistance improving communication between Gerald and his wife.Last, substance abuse treatment. Gerald’s use of alcohol to deal with stress and not a healthy wayto manage his stress and is likely leading to the abuse of his wife. Motivational interviewing is a useful tool to help individuals recognize the impact their behavior has on their relationship (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Preventative strategies could include support groups. Allowing Gerald to have a safe space to share and learn from his peers. Family support service can assist with resources for financial planning, parenting, and relationship management. These services can help families learn how to create an environment which is conducive to healthy interactions.(Hameed et al., 2020). Cultural considerations will also need to be made as African American communities often face unique challenges from socio-economic disparities to systemic racism.
5Scenario Three – Susan. In this section we will explore Susan, a 15-year-old Latinas experiencing severe behavioral problems and determine how this is linked to her home environment. There are several key questions which will need to be answered to better understand Susan’s situation. We will want to understand Susan’s home life and how her parent’s interactions affect her. We will also want to understand the emotional impact caused by her parents fighting. What types of thoughts does she have while her parents are fighting? Aside from using music to cope, what other strategies does Susan use to cope. Does Susan have trusted adults she is able to talk toabout her experiences? By having a clear understanding of Susan’s emotional state, an appropriate intervention can be developed.Current concerns include how Susan’s mental health is being impacted by the continued exposure to domestic violence. California law has identified ongoing exposure to domestic violence under California Penal Code §273D (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE). It’s also concerning Susan will begin to normalize the ongoing violent behavior and will act out violently as we are seeing her do in school or accept abusive relationships in the future. When assessing Susan’s case, it is very likely what Susan has described is indeed child abuse. Because of Susan’s age California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act mandates a report is filled due to suspected abuse (Schwab-Reese et al., 2023). Susan should be provided with individual therapy and possibly family therapy if her parents are receptive to understanding the impact of their behaviors on their children. School based support is also important to address bullying and healthy ways to address peer conflict, not only to reduce future suspension but also provider Susan with a clear understanding of health communication. Lastly, Susan will want to have an identified safety plan in case of a crisis; a safe place for Susan to go, identified trusted
6adults, resources for crisis interventions such as hotlines and shelters (Schwab-Reese et al., 2023). Prevention strategies can include community education programs, parenting workshops, support groups (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). When assessing this case and create a plan, one must consider Susan’s culture. Latino families may experience unique pressure related to cultural expectations and they may have specific family dynamics related to their communication style.Scenario Four – Cindy. Cindy’s situation depicts the complex nature of IPV, in this case related to culture and family dynamics. Cindy’s situation brings forth many concerns. First, it appears Jim’s behavior is indicative of a cycle of violence. A violent behavior occurs, the perpetrator apologizes, relationship improves, and the cycle begins again. Cindy is also exposing herself on an ongoing basis, high levels of stress. Research has proven continued exposure to domestic violence can lead to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Similar to our last scenario, Cindy and Jim have children who may be witnessto this IPV which is occurring. Cultural consideration must be taken when assessing this case. Cindy and Jim identify as Islamic. There may be presence of stigma surrounding divorce and their willingness to see help.There are a few likely outcomes which will occur based on the information provided. First, in the absence of an intervention, it is likely Jim’s violence will continue with increased severity over time. This could lead to Cindy experiencing extreme physical harm. Cindy may also start experiencing chronic anxiety and depress, which would like to affect her daily function and ability to care for herself and her children. Last, Cindy’s children may continue the intergenerational transmission of family violence is associated with negative outcomes (Livings et al., 2023).
7Referrals will be needed to protect Cindy and her children as well as prevent Jim from causing future harm. Cindy should be provided with access to domestic violence shelters, legal assistance if a restraining order is needed, therapy services for her and her children, and child protective service can assist in providing the children with added protection. Jim should be provided with anger management programs, while anger is a natural feeling, excessive anger can impair one’s function (Glick et al., 2021). Jim may also benefit from individual therapy and cultural competency programs to help understand the impact of his actions (Shah et al., 2020).When considering risk assessment, I would want to evaluate any immediate danger Cindyand her children may face by utilizing the danger assessment. This will help identify specific riskfactors of IPV. A psychological evaluation would be beneficial for both Cindy and Jim. Cindy, toassess the impact of the trauma she experienced and Jim to evaluate his mental health and determine factors contributing to his violent behaviors. Interventions could include therapy, continuing education, and safety planning. Lastly, preventions strategies include increasing community awareness, creating a support network, and offering parenting classes to emphasize the importance of non-violence discipline and the importance of a healthy environment.Scenario Five – Brian.Brian’s situation represents the challenges individuals face even after surviving IPV. While a restraining order provides protection to individuals from potential harm from a specific person, the effectiveness will depend on Tom’s willingness to comply. It will be Brian’s responsibility to determine if the state he moved to will recognize the restraining order from his previous state of residence. Each states enforcement of their restraining orders may vary. In this situation the restraining order may not be successful as Tom appears to be attempting to stalk Brain and disregards the restraining order which is in place.
8While it is Brian’s responsibility to determine his new states enforcement process, the restraining order will be enforced in the new stated due to the Full Faith and Credit Clause. This means while the restraining order was granted in another state, Brian’s current stated will recognize the order and will enforce the judgment entered by the other stated (U.S. Congress, 2020). VAWA provisions have also identified crossing state lines to violate a restraining order a federal crime and is enforceable between states (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Brian would benefit from taking protective measures and creating a backup plan such a maintaining distance from Tom and avoiding giving out his personal information. Brian should have an identified list of friends he can reach out to as well as the authorities if he is feeling unsafe. Brian may also benefit from a support group. Tom is acting in a manner which is identified as stalking. Stalking is a pattern of behaviors which make a person feel nervous, afraid, or in danger (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). Brian would benefit from increasing his vigilance by considering security camera.Brian will need to document any attempts by Tom to contact or locate him, this will assess and determine the presence and risk of Tom’s stalking behavior. As mentioned earlier, it will be important for Brian to create a safety plan which includes emergency contacts, a safe location, and strategies to avoid contact and confrontation with Tom. Brian would also benefit from therapy specializing in trauma and domestic violence. Legal aid can provide an added level of support with navigating the complexities related to his restraining order. Preventative strategies could include encouraging friends, family, and community members to be aware and supportive to help create a safety network for Brian.Scenario Six – Jill.Jill is a victim of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a critical issue which requires police intervention in cases such as Jill’s. Police are required to arrest individuals they believe in the perpetrator if there is probable cause, regardless of whether the
9crime was witnessed by the officer (Miller-Perrin et al, 2021). While Al is a police officer, it does not exempt him from following the law, it does however add a layer of complexity as policeofficers are often trusted individuals. Personally, I believe arresting Al may be the only way to keep Jill safe. I also believe there is an increased likelihood of Al committing this crime with another woman when his relationship with Jill has run its course.It is crucial Jill’s safety is assessed. I would evaluate the need to identify a safe place for Jill such a shelter for battered women. An emotional and psychological assessment would also beutilized to determine Jill’s emotional state as she is likely experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Jill is a young woman who just moved to the United States from the Philippines, it is not clear if she has established a support system. If Jill does not currently have support system, Jill will be encouraged to join a support group or a community organization as a support system is essential. Similar to our previous scenario interventions, Jill should be provided with access to hotlines such as the access and crisis line, which is available 24/7. This line will be able to provide Jill with resources for immediate shelter in the event of a crisis, therapy support to help identify a safety plan and resources for legal aid when a restraining order is needed. Domestic violence is an issue which needs to be discussed and the public should continue to promote awareness on this topic. Everyone should be aware of their rights and have access to resources.
10ReferencesBlack, M. C., Basile, K. C., Breiding, M. J., Smith, S. G., Walters, M. L., Merrick, M. T., ... & Stevens, M. R. (2020). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2015 Data Brief – Updated Release. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fals-Stewart, W., Golden, J., & Prendergast, M. (2021). The role of substance use in intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(1-2), 168-192.Glick, L. M., et al. (2021). Efficacy of anger management interventions for children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(3), 746-761.Hameed, M., O'Doherty, L., Gilchrist, G., Tirado-Muñoz, J., Taft, A., Chondros, P., Feder, G., Tan, M., & Hegarty, K. (2020). Psychological therapies for women who experience intimate partner violence. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 7(7), CD013017. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013017.pub2Livings, M. S., Hsiao, V., & Withers, M. (2023). Breaking the cycle of family violence: A critique of family violence interventions. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(4), 2544-2559.Miller-Perrin, C.L, Perrin, R.D. & Renzetti, C.M. (2021). Violence and maltreatment in intimate relationships. (2nd edition). SAGE. ISBN: 9781544371085Schwab-Reese, L. M., Albright, K., & Krugman, R. D. (2023, February). Mandatory reporting “will paralyze people” or “without it, people would not report”: Understanding perspectives from within the child protection system. In Child & youth care forum (Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 139-156). New York: Springer US.
11Shah, S., et al. (2020). The impact of culture on domestic violence in Muslim communities: A review of the literature. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(20), 4037-4055.U.S. Congress. (2020). Article IV, Section 1: Full faith and credit. Constitution Annotated., from (Website)