Asymmetrical Role-Taking: Comparing Battered and Nonbattered Women

Abstract

Franks's social psychological model of oppressive situations and asymmetric role-taking offers a new way of understanding the predicaments faced by battered women. Unlike individualistic or single-factor explanations, the model suggests that women faced with a particular combination of situational pressures and relationship inequities are especially vulnerable to distressful emotions and self-esteem difficulties. Survey data from 66 battered women using domestic violence services and 80 nonbattered women were collected to test the major propositions of the model. Battered women's social situations were oppressive and characterized by powerlessness, social isolation, and economic dependency. Batterers were poor empathizers. Predictions about self-blame and identification with the aggressor were not confirmed. The practical value of this theoretical approach with its emphasis on enhancing women's power base and increasing men's interpersonal sensitivity is developed.

Intimate Partner Violence: Exploring Links with Men’s Childhood Gender Inequality and Violence Experiences

“…At the societal level, these include poverty (Bachman & Saltzman, 1995;Hotaling & Sugarman, 1986;Aldorando & Sugarman, 1996) and social norms that reflect male dominance (Levinson, 1989 In dysfunctional families, the husband sees himself as the absolute individual power within the family system. He strongly believes that his position as the only bread winner of the family grants him the right exercise control of all aspects of the family life and overall individuals living in the same household (Forte, Franks &Rigsby 1996). Rudo & Powell (1996) asserts that family violence is inter-generational.…”

Un oxymore pléonastique. Sur quelques problèmes posés par la construction du concept de violence symbolique chez Pierre Bourdieu

“…Sie zeigen, dass Personen in beherrschten sozialen Positionen subtile Signale und Handlungsanzeichen genauer deuten können als solche in dominanten Positionen (vgl. Thomas et al 1972;Forte et al 1996 …”

Self-efficacy in the context of psychological abuse: a model of efficacy erosion.

“…In a shelter-based sample of survivors of psychological abuse and other fonns of IPV, over half reported they had not experienced a single supportive or group social 14 interaction in the previous month (Forte, Franks, Forte, & Rigsby, 1996). Commensurate results were seen among mothers recruited from community parent groups; mothers with a severe IPV history reported fewer friends, contacts with friends, long-term friendships, and fewer friends who "really listened" than mothers with a less severe IPV history (Coohey, 2007, p. 508).…”

“…Positive, successful social models essentially provided vicarious learning experiences to IPV victims, which in tum increased self-efficacy for leaving the relationship. Unfortunately, as previously described, social isolation and low social support are common components of psychological abuse (Coohey, 2007;Forte et al, 1996;Panchanadeswaran, EI-Bassel, Gilbert, Wu, & Chang, 2008). Therefore, access to models of adaptive behavior, such as career development or leaving the abusive or violent relationship, is likely restricted.…”