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Abstract
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Research and theory on violent behavior have treated aggression between intimates and aggression between strangers as separate phenomena. Major criminological works on violence and aggression have generally overlooked violence in the home. As a result, independent and distinct bodies of theoretical and practical knowledge exist regarding family violence and aggression toward strangers, and the relationship between family violence and violence directed against strangers is little understood. Estimates of the intersection of these behaviors vary extensively. Severity of domestic violence is associated with violence outside the home. Exposure to violence as a child consistently emerges as a strong explanatory factor for both domestic violence and the behavior of "generally" violent men. Behavior patterns appear to shift over time, from domestic violence only to violence toward both strangers and family members. However, an integrated theory of violent behavior by males provides explanations of both stranger and family violence. Early childhood socialization toward violence, modified by social and cultural supports during adolescence and adulthood, suggests a social learning paradigm. Hypotheses are developed that integrate and unify theories of stranger and family violence.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Fagan and Wexler was to review available research and to attempt to establish a relationship between violence within the home and violence in the streets. It specifically looked at those who assault their wives and then also victimize strangers.
METHODOLOGY:
This was a non-experimental literature review of sociological, mental health, criminal and legal data bases. Literature that explored the relationship between family and stranger violence was not available. The authors conducted a comparative review of available research on two types of males, those violent towards their partners and those arrested for stranger violence.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The authors first examined specific correlates of violent behavior and found that adults who committed violent acts against strangers were young, nonwhite, males, poor, lacked empathy, came from broken homes, lacked interpersonal skills, were weakly bonded to school, and had been victimized by sexual abuse and exploitation. Wife abusers appeared to exhibit low self-esteem and extreme jealousy; reported a need for control; displayed threats of suicide, homicide, and abusiveness towards children; reported a history of involvement with alcohol and drug abuse; displayed wide variations in moods; and were exposed to violence as a child (witnessing or as a victim).
Second, the authors reviewed violence in the family and violence toward strangers. Studies found that 50% of a sample of wife abusers had spent time in prison, and 33% were in for violent offenses toward strangers. Wife abusers were arrested for "serious crimes" at twice the rate of nonviolent spouses. Where as "severely" violent husbands were arrested at almost four times that of nonviolent husbands.
Finally, the authors turned to childhood exposure to violence. These studies indicated childhood exposure to violence, along with early socialization, contributed strongly to adult violence and severe forms of family violence. The authors suggested that by reviewing themes common to the paradigms of both family and stranger violence, theoretical propositions could be developed.
Four constructs explain psychologically the conceptual framework in understanding different types of violence: instigation, habit strength, inhibitions, and situational factors. Common theoretical approaches have found sources of both family and stranger violence. Examples given included: family dysfunction or individual pathology being responsible for violence, whether at home or towards strangers; a variety of situational factors external to the offender (or family) cause violent behavior; violence in the home and elsewhere is endemic to this society; an the ideology that patriarchy and male supremacy is responsible for all violence toward women (and children).
In developing the integration theory of family and stranger violence, the authors posit the development of a tread that starts with weak parental supervision and family conflict in early childhood, is further enhanced by modeling and reinforcement, which then develops into a pattern of successively weakened social and psychological bonds. Several preliminary hypotheses of an integrated model combining social, psychological, situational and ideological sources of male violence. These hypotheses suggest that childhood exposure to violence leads to repeated violence; sex-role socialization plays a mitigating factor in violence; chronic adult violence will commonly occur with the socialization of violence during childhood, combined with community attitudes and behavioral norms that legitimizing violence; and in communities not fostering violence, socialization of violence in the family during childhood will predict more spousal violence than chronic stranger violence.
The authors concluded that there is strong evidence that violence at home and also to strangers is a product from home environments which is then reinforced with social contact among peers and within the community.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors remarked that little is known about violent offenders, and research conducted in family and stranger violence should be exchanged so their relationships may be better understood. The authors suggest a longitudinal study with a variety of samples to test theory and identify developmental patterns. Research needs to address what keeps fifty percent of American men immune from developing predicted outcomes from traditional sex roles and socialization of violence. Also, research needs to assess the psychosocial processes of complex variables such as socialization, instigation, and habituation on the development of children exposed to violence.
In addition, in order to add to the empirical knowledge of stranger violence as it relates to violence in the home, the authors discussed on page 16, eight areas of inquiry which included: epidemiological studies on severity, prevalence and frequency of intrafamily violence and stranger violence; empirical evidence on process and other variables relating to violence; risk markers identifying subgroups of violent offenders; mutability and shifting of violence factors over time; how psychosocial processes may halt violent practices and change behaviors; investigation of the effects of deterrents; and finally, comparing and contrasting patterns of violence with SES factors. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
N1 - Call Number: NC, AB-242
KW - Domestic Violence Offender
KW - Domestic Violence Causes
KW - Spouse Abuse Causes
KW - Spouse Abuse Offender
KW - Offender Characteristics
KW - Physical Assault Offender
KW - Physical Assault Causes
KW - Stranger Violence
KW - Male Offender
KW - Male Violence
KW - Adult Male
KW - Adult Offender
KW - Adult Violence
KW - Childhood Predictors
KW - Child Development
KW - Juvenile Development
KW - Youth Development
KW - Partner Violence
KW - Violence Against Women
Language: en |