Faculty Articles

Psychology and violence against women

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1989

Publication Title

American Psychologist

Volume

44

Issue/Number

4

First Page

695

ISSN

0003-066X

Last Page

702

Abstract/Excerpt

The discipline of psychology has made many contributions to the understanding of the social problem of men's violence against women during the past 15 years by reframing the problem as one of misuse of power by men who have been socialized into believing they are entitled to control the women in their lives, even by violent means. The new scientific psychology data base formed by integrating feminist gender analysis methods into more traditional psychological methodology is discussed, as are the implications of the resulting empirical data on which are based newer assessment, treatment, and forensic applications. A review of the major psychological advances in psychotherapy with women who have been sexually assaulted, exploited, and battered is presented, as well as implications for national policy. The feminist model presented is one in which science and practice concerns are carefully considered at all steps of the process. The article concludes with a discussion of the challenges involved in making the future training of psychologists more relevant to women's mental health concerns.

DOI

10.1037/0003-066X.44.4.695

Peer Reviewed

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