Theories of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has garnered increasing public and academic attention in the past several decades. Theories about the causes, prevention, and intervention for IPV have developed in complexity. This article provides an overview of the historical roots of IPV, as well as a description and critique of historical and contemporary theories of IPV causes and women's responses to IPV. This is followed by a discussion of the most current theoretical developments and application of critical theories to the problem of IPV. The article concludes with theoretically based implications for nursing practice and research with women who are experiencing IPV.

Raising children in a violent context: An intersectionality approach to understanding parents' experiences in Ciudad Juárez

“…In contrast to other intersectionality studies of violence (see Chaudhry and Bertram 2009 for an exception) that address women’s experiences with domestic violence (Erez, Adelman and Gregory 2009; Kelly 2011; Meyer 2010; Nixon and Humphreys 2010), we instead applied an intersectional lens to a study of community violence and interviewed parents who were not “directly impacted” by violence in the traditional sense of experiencing personal bodily harm. In doing so, we included the voices of those not typically examined in studies of violent contexts.…”

“…First, the intersectional approach privileges considerations of the social context (Kelly 2011). Understanding people’s experiences with violence in Juárez would be limited without recognition of the sociospatial dynamics that give rise to contemporary Juárez.…”

“…The focus is on understanding what is created and experienced at the confluence of two or more axes of oppression. An intersectional approach directs our gaze to how the more structural elements of social location blend with more personal aspects of experience, thus emphasizing context (Kelly 2011). In sum, intersectionality is used here as a framework for understanding how intersectional identities contour life experiences in a particular social context (Kelly 2011).…”

“We’re giving you something so we get something in return”: Perspectives on research participation and compensation among people living with HIV who use drugs

“…HIV status, drug use). Identities are comprised of various characteristics, such as class and race, which intersect at the micro-level and often reveal larger socio-structural inequities (Bowleg, 2012; Kelly, 2011). For structurally vulnerable populations, HIV status and drug use can be additional social identities of particular relevance.…”

Emergency nurses' experiences of caring for survivors of intimate partner violence

“…Situations where a person is perceived to be a victim of powers beyond his/her control and of undeserved negative events (such as IPV) evoke sympathetic feelings (Weiner 2006). ENs' sympathetic portrayals of some women stemmed from perceiving them as powerless victims rather than survivors (the latter emphasizes strengths and agency) (Kelly et al 2011). Sympathy, characterized by emotional affection, is sometimes used in a similar context as pity (Von Dietze & Orb 2000).…”