NCJ Number
148169
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1993) Pages: 289-302
Date Published
1993
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Differences in married partners' attributions of blame for domestic violence were assessed.
Abstract
The sample was 139 couples referred to a mandatory domestic violence treatment program in the military. Husbands and wives were asked whether they a) blamed themselves and b) blamed their spouse for the first episode of domestic violence, then asked the same question regarding the latest episode of domestic violence. Both the women and the men were more likely to blame each other than themselves for both episodes. However, more men (62 percent) than women (32 percent) blamed themselves for the latest episode. Proportions in which both partners agreed were as follows: first episode, husband at fault, 8 percent; first episode, wife at fault, 7 percent; first episode, both at fault, 10 percent; latest episode, husband at fault, 18 percent; latest episode, wife at fault, 4 percent; and latest episode, both at fault, 12 percent. The most noteworthy implications of these findings are that as violence continues, men typically accept more responsibility; those who do not are probably threatened by any notions that they are to blame and that their acquired beliefs can be proven wrong. 2 figures, 41 references