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Working with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence and Abuse: The Potential for Change

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Domestic Violence

Abstract

This chapter commences with a brief overview of the development of behavioural change programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) in the UK. Sarah Hilder and Caroline Freeman highlight a number of academic discourses, which have been utilised to examine the commission of DVA, with more sophisticated understandings developing over time of the diverse characteristics of DVA perpetrators. They discuss the impact of competing approaches to programme intervention, influenced primarily by discourses rooted in psychology and feminism. The evaluation of perpetrator programmes remains problematic, although the recent Mirabal (Kelly, L., & Westmarland, N. (2015) Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes: Steps towards change: Project Mirabal final report. London and Durham, NC: London Metropolitan University and Durham University) study provided opportunity for broadening ideas on the victim-centred metrics that may be applied. The authors conclude by drawing upon desistance frameworks to argue the potential of combining programme interventions with a more holistic understanding of what may lead to an individual cessation from DVA.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For more information on the therapeutical alliance, see ‘Alternatives to Violence Therapy Project’ Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress (2014). A study of process outcomes of therapy of men who seek help for their use of violence: http://www.nkvts.no/en/Pages/ProjectInfo.aspx?prosjektid=1281

  2. 2.

    Rational Calculator Model, emanating from rational choice theory, also known as rational action theory, assumes that the commission of criminal acts is self-determined and purposeful to maximise individual pleasure and achievement. Less attention is given to the social construction of crime and the role of socio-political factors and structural inequalities. See Clarke and Felson (1997).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Community and Criminal Justice Division, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    Sarah Hilder

  2. FreeVa, Leicester, UK

    Caroline Freeman

Authors
  1. Sarah Hilder
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  2. Caroline Freeman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom

    Sarah Hilder

  2. Dept. Law, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom

    Vanessa Bettinson

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© 2016 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)

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Hilder, S., Freeman, C. (2016). Working with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence and Abuse: The Potential for Change. In: Hilder, S., Bettinson, V. (eds) Domestic Violence. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52452-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52452-2_13

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-52451-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-52452-2

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