course focus 1

Soc 695 RESEARCH ON FAMILY VIOLENCE IN WORLD PERSPECTIVE

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY

• What the course covers

• Objectives of the course

• Define violence and family violence

• Explain difficulties and confusion in terminology for violence and how those terms will be used in this course

• Explain the difference between violence and aggression as used in this course and related terms, such as anger

• A Sociological Perspective On Family Violence

course focus 2

EMPHASES OF THE COURSE

• A sociology course – emphasis on social causes & effects. But psychology is not slighted

• A research experience course – lab projects to test theories

• World perspective – the lab projects will use data from the international dating violence study

• Emphasis on corporal punishment by parents (“spanking”) because it is the primordial violence

• Emphasis on gender differences in victimization and perpetration of violence against partners because the feminist theory that male dominance is the major cause of partner violence is the most widely accepted explanation

course focus 3

ASPECTS OF THE FAMILY VIOLENCE TO BE COVERED• Nature or types of family violence• Prevalence and chronicity• Causes• Consequences• Prevention and control

ASPECTS OF SOCIOLOGY TO BE COVERED•The unique contribution of sociology to explaining human behavior and society and how it differs from psychology• The basic principle of social causation• The basic principle of society and other groups as systems• Research methods

* Hypotheses, samples, measurement, data analysis, interpretation

* Cross-Cultural and Cross-National researchPREREQUISITES: Methods and Statistics

course focus 4

REVIEW OF

SYLLABUS AND ASSIGNMENTS

course focus 5

CLASS MEETINGS

LECTURE/DISCUSSION ONE DAY* Lectures will be available on website or

Blackboard* Raise Questions* Ask For Further Information* On occasion, you will be asked to write and turn in comments and question for discussion•LAB PROJECT THE OTHER DAY MOST WEEKS• Use data from the International Dating Violence Study to test theories about the causes and effects of family violence•Example: Is corporal punishment by parents associated with an increased probability of hitting a dating partner?

course focus 6

TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS

AGGRESSION An act carried out with the INTENTION of harming another person

PhysicalPsychologicalSocialSexualMaterial

RELATED TERMSVIOLENCE = Physical aggressionABUSE = Mistreatment of another family

member. Can any of the aboveMALTREATMENT = Same as abuse

course focus 7

PUBLIC & ADVOCATES: USE “VIOLENCE” FOR ANY FORM OF MALTREATMENT OR ABUSE

SOMETIMES APPLIED TO ANYTHING SOMEONE DOES NOT LIKE:• Marketing infant formulas• Clear-cutting forests• Incest

Criticism of a therapist who was treating a women incest victim and described the sexual acts as “not violent” “Denis -- you refer to the abuse as "non-violent". I'm sure you know that all abuse is violent. Whether she was physically forced into it or not, it is still an act of violence and needs to be treated and talked about as such.”

CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE ARE NOT THE SAME• CONFLICT IS AN INHERENT PART OF HUMAN INTERACTION

• VIOLENCE IS ONE METHOD OF RESOLVING A CONFLICTWhat are some other methods?

course focus 8

FOR THIS COURSE: USE "VIOLENCE" IN TWO WAYS

• "VIOLENCE" BY ITSELF: An act carried out with the intention of causing another person to experience physical pain or injury.

This is the scientific usage.

• "FAMILY VIOLENCE" Any form of maltreatment of another family member.Violence Has Many Dimensions. What are some examples?

Minor and SevereCriminal and LegitimateInstrumental and Expressive

Is Actual Harm Necessary? A person can escape being touched and it is still violence (physical aggression) defined as an act carried out with the INTENTION of harming another person). Also the legal definition. Nashua teacher and child drilling desk – not clear.

Victims point of view is relevant for understanding the response to violence

course focus 9

WHAT IS “FAMILY VIOLENCE”? “FAMILY MALTREATMENT” WOULD BE A BETTER LABEL

• AT LEAST 25 KINDS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, OR MALTREATMENT OR "ABUSE" OF A FAMILY MEMBER

Abusive Behavior Type of VictimPhysical abuse Child

Sexual abuse Dating Partner

Psychological abuse Spouse

Neglect Parent

Theft, embezzlement Elderly family member

• 5 ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS X 5 TYPES OF VICTIMS = 25 KINDS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

• What are some examples? Which interest you more?

course focus 10

WHAT MAKES A BEHAVIOR ABUSE?

HARM CAUSED - This is often harm assumed

CULTURAL NORMS CAN DEFINE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING “ABUSE” OR NORMAL* Child labor* Child sex* Spanking kids for misbehavior * Spank a child to drive out the devil* Toughening a child* "Physically chastise an errant wife"* 7-year olds as caregivers of infants and toddlers

course focus 11

OTHER POINTS ON AGGRESSION/VIOLENCE

• What is the difference between anger and aggression?

• Anger is an emotion that sometimes leads to the behavior called aggression

• Is aggression/violence morally right or wrong? Some aggressive acts are and some are not

Depends on the cultural norms of the society"Spanking" children versus "slapping" a wife"Executing" a criminal versus "killing" a rival

Other examples of "legitimate violence"• What is another everyday language meaning of aggression? Example: An "aggressive' salesman or base ball player

* Not aggression because no intent to harm* It is aggression if the player does attempt to

injure another player* A source of confusion because many people

use “aggression” to mean vigorous effort

course focus 12