This document outlines Dr. Karen O'Brien's presentation on men who batter. It discusses common misconceptions about the causes of domestic violence. It also examines societal expectations of masculinity and how they may contribute to abuse. The presentation covers characteristics of abusers, explanations for their violence, and approaches to treatment programs. Effectiveness of batterer intervention is debated, with some studies finding programs reduce recidivism but others calling for improved evaluation of outcomes.

1. Dr. Karen O’Brien
Outline
Copyrighted material – not for distribution.

2. OVERVIEW
 Discuss men who batter
 Common misconceptions
 Why men batter and characteristics of an abuser
 Treatment for batterers
 Show film “Tough Guise”
 Discussion of film

3. MEN WHO BATTER
 No single type
 Contradictory results
 Control
 Behavior-based typology (3)
 Low level criminality
 Dysphoric volatile behavior
 Dysphoric general violence

4. COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
 Drugs and alcohol
 Stress

5. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MAN?
EXERCISE
Discuss what it means to
be a man in our society.

6. WHAT DOES IT MEAN
TO BE A MAN?
 Aggressive
 Dominant
 Self-confident
 Independent
 Active
 Competitive
 Decisive
 Knowledgeable about the world
 Not easily influenced or excitable in minor crises
 Hides emotions

7. EFFECTS ON MEN
What effect does this have on men?
How do women contribute to this
“problem”?
How do standards for masculinity
differ by race/ethnicity?

8. WHY DO MEN BATTER?
Different levels of analysis
Power and control

9. INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
 Insecure and vulnerable
 Learned
 Inadequate
 Loss of control
 Impending loss
 Biological
 Mental illnesses
 Research needed

10. SOCIETAL LEVEL
 Gender inequality
 Subordination
 Implied permission
 Gender roles
 Power inequalities
 Media

11. CHARACTERISTICS OF BATTERERS
EXERCISE
Describe the characteristics of a
man who batters his partner.

12. CHARACTERISTICS OF BATTERERS
 No single type
 Parental violence
 Child exposure
 Rigid, stereotyped gender roles
 Angry and hostile
 2008-parental rejection

13. CHARACTERISTICS OF BATTERERS CONT’D
 Mutuality and trust
 Affective dysregulation
 Antisocial/narcissistic tendencies
 Antisocial behaviors
 Depressive symptoms

14. TREATMENT
EXERCISE
Develop an intervention
program to stop male battering.

15. DO PROGRAMS FOR BATTERERS WORK?
 Studied success
 Criteria for change
 How to assess change
 End behaviors and threats

16. TYPICAL TREATMENT FORMAT
 5 to 15 men
 Two male leaders
 Structured
 10 to 36
 Focus?
 Treatment of other problems

17. MEN WHO BATTER MUST
 Take responsibility
 Want to change behaviors
 Work hard

18. RESULTS OF THE STUDY
 2/3 of the men who completed were reported to be
physically non-violent at end
 1/3 of the men who contacted the agency and just over
half who enter the program complete
 LOWER rates of success
 over time
 Use victim reports

19. SUGGESTIONS FOR PROGRAMS FOR
BATTERERS
 Coexist
 Safety must be ensured
 Don’t interview
 80% court referred
 Challenge need to control
 Confront underlying
 Couples therapy

20. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TREATMENT
PROGRAMS
 Strengths-based emphasis
 Training and practice
 Shame or defensiveness
 Collaborative working alliance
 Client-directed change process (Murphy &
Eckhardt, 2005)

21. CONCLUSION
 No empirical evidence
 Small but positive effect
 More effective for some
 Ongoing assessment
 Evaluate effectiveness

22. CHALLENGE
Read and discuss article.
Apply reading for today and
material learned in lecture to
thoughtfully reflect on and
critique this article.