The Batterer as Parent: Addressing the Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics (SAGE Series on Violence against Women) - Softcover

Bancroft, R. Lundy; Silverman, Jay G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761922776 ISBN 13: 9780761922773

Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc, 2002

Synopsis

The Batterer as Parent takes the reader inside of homes affected by domestic violence, imparting an understanding of the atmosphere that battering men create for the children who live with them. Bancroft and Silverman show how partner abuse affects each relationship in a family, and explains how children’s emotional recovery is inextricably linked to the healing and empowerment of their mothers. The authors cover the important but often-overlooked area of the post-separation parenting behaviors of men who batter, including their use of custody litigation as a tool of abuse. Readers also are guided in evaluating change in the parenting of men who batter, assessing risk to children from unsupervised visitation, and supporting the emotional recovery of children. Although the book is written primarily for professionals, its accessible style makes it engaging and useful for abused mothers and anyone else wishing to assist children exposed to battering. 

About this title

About the Author

Jay Silverman is Professor of Medicine and Global Public Health at the University of California at San Diego. He is a developmental psychologist with 20 years of experience in domestic violence, including direct counseling experience with hundreds of men who batter. He has led multiple, large-scale international and domestic research programs on issues of gender-based violence against women and girls; this work has resulted in more than 100 peer-reviewed studies. His research has included examinations of the social contextual influences on the etiology of male-perpetrated partner violence, the nature and health consequences of adolescent dating violence, history of child abuse among men who perpetrate partner violence, judicial behavior and the experiences of battered mothers in child custody cases, the role of partner violence in men’s transmission of HIV to their female partners, the nature and HIV risks associated with trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation, and the roles of partner violence in unintended and teen pregnancy, coercion regarding abortion, pregnancy loss, and infant and child morbidity and mortality.

Review

"This book beautifully educates the reader on the world in which batterers live and raise their children. Judges, lawyers, and others in decision-making roles will find this information very helpful in crafting appropriate decisions regarding a child’s safe contact with a battering parent." 

(Judge Bobbi Alpers)

"Excellent. I’ve been waiting for this book. It is a crisp, cogent, comprehensive exegesis on batterers, their parenting styles, their custody litigation practices, and the adverse impact of their violence on battered mothers and their children. A must read for attorneys, advocates, custody evaluators, judges, and batterer intervention service providers." 

(Barbara Hart)

"This is by far the clearest and most insightful book to appear on domestic violence and custody issues. An indispensable tool and a breakthrough for anyone handling the 50% of custody cases where domestic violence issues arise. This practitioner book is thoroughly grounded in intimate knowledge of both the research and the court system and is must reading for lawyers, therapists, GAL’s, custody evaluators, judges, and domestic violence advocates who are handling these cases." 

(Joan Zorza)

"Critically informative for those who work directly with victims or abusers. The authors provide a comprehensive road map to the many problems batterers exhibit as parents, how these affect children, and what can be done about it." 

(David Adams, Ed.D.)

"This is a groundbreaking work that elucidates the complexity of the family dynamics engendered by a batterer’s presence in the home. Grounded in a sophisticated understanding of psychological trauma, and offering important recommendations for assessment and treatment, this book should be required reading for all professionals who work with parents or children affected by domestic violence." 

(Beth Tabor Lev, Ph.D.)

"This book is a much needed beginning in the effort to examine the parenting of batterers in a more systematic manner. In addition, the book compels us to consider the significant gaps in out empirical knowledge of battering and family dynamics. The Batterer as Parent is an invaluable resource and reference book for professionals and students working with this population." (Shanti Kulkarni)

About this edition

• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0761922776
• ISBN 13: 9780761922773
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256