How Batterer Intervention Programs Work

Abstract

Understanding what facilitates change in men who perpetrate domestic violence can aid the development of more effective batterer intervention programs (BIPs). To identify and describe key change processes, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine successful BIP completers and with 10 intervention group facilitators. The accounts described a range of individual-level processes of change consistent with prior research but also included several processes spanning the community, organizational, and group levels of analysis. Program completers and facilitators gave mostly similar accounts, though differed in their emphasis of criminal justice system sanctions, group resocialization of masculinity, and the participants' own decision to change. All accounts especially emphasized group-level processes and the importance of balancing support and confrontation from facilitators and group members. The findings demonstrate the importance of obtaining multiple perspectives on change processes, and support ecological and systems models of batterer intervention.

Examining Engagement of Men in a Domestic Abuse Program from Three Perspectives: An Exploratory Multimethod Study

“…A few studies have examined the change process from the abusive men's and or the facilitator's perspective (Brownlee & Chlebovec, 2004;Pandya & Gingerich, 2002;Scott & Wolfe, 2000;Silvergleid & Mankowski, 2006). For example, men report that interventions that consist of challenging abusive behavior and support by facilitators was crucial in helping them change (Silvergleid & Mankowski, 2006). However, it is not clear what interventions that challenge or support, or the timing of both, leads to change in abusive behavior.…”

“…Studies examining attrition have focused on primarily static descriptive variables (Daly & Pelowski, 2000), providing few guidelines for group facilitators on how to engage abusive men in the change process. A few studies have examined the change process from the abusive men's and or the facilitator's perspective (Brownlee & Chlebovec, 2004;Pandya & Gingerich, 2002;Scott & Wolfe, 2000;Silvergleid & Mankowski, 2006). For example, men report that interventions that consist of challenging abusive behavior and support by facilitators was crucial in helping them change (Silvergleid & Mankowski, 2006).…”

Reducing the recurrence of domestic abuse among male intimate partners: A case study of the PG Stop Violence program of the Northern John Howard Society.

“…For the purposes o f the current study, I define change processes as inner and outer resources or influences, own ability and support services that participants would identify as facilitating movement toward non-abusive behaviors and attitudes; this may include tangible and intangible activities (Silvergleid, & Mankowski, 2006).…”

“…Whatever the motivation may be, there is a need for research that will view the success o f intervention not only from the lenses o f program participants and facilitators, but also from the perspective o f their wives/ partners/ victims and possibly from a more objective longitudinal study o f recidivism. In addition, the vast majority of research has focused on Caucasian males; there is a need for further study that should assess whether more culturally diverse samples o f men identify with similar processes o f change (Silvergleid & Mankowski, 2006).…”

“…Whatever the motivation may be, I think there is a need for research that will view success o f intervention from the lenses of program participants/facilitators, and that o f their wives/partners/victims. There is a need for further study that assesses whether more culturally diverse samples o f men identify with similar processes o f change (Silvergleid & Mankowski, 2006).…”