The Roots of Domestic Violence and Best Practices Through the Eyes of the Practitioner

• In Event: Community and Practitioner Perceptions of Victimization and Prevention

Abstract

Using an expert panel approach (Delphi method), we gathered ideas from victim advocates, social and legal service providers, and members of the investigative and judiciary professions about best practices for helping victims of domestic violence. During the course of our research we also considered respondents’ beliefs regarding the roots of domestic violence. We suspected that this influences practitioner positions regarding best practices. We found that two main views were represented: beliefs about social life such as patriarchy and unequal power relations between men and women, and beliefs about individual problems such as substance abuse and mental illness. Advocates were more likely to endorse the former, while the legal and judiciary representatives were more concerned with the latter. However, the cycle of violence theory as a cause of domestic violence received strong consensus. We suspect that these disparate beliefs not only influence community responses, but also practitioner positions regarding best practices. This finding also complicates the widespread acceptance, of many domestic violence scholars, for a streamlined and multidisciplinary justice system response. We conclude with suggestions for next steps to more fully involve various practitioners’ perspectives when envisioning and working toward collective community responses and best practices to address domestic violence.

Authors

• Jennifer Colanese, Indiana University, South Bend

• Catherine Borshuk, Indiana University South Bend