Current Controversies on Family Violence

Introduction: "Understanding Controversies on Family Violence" SECTION I: CONTROVERSIES IN CONCEPTUALIZATION Introduction to Section Issue 1: Family Violence: What Type of a Problem is it? 1. Through a Psychological Lens: "Personality Disorder and Spouse Assault" - Donald G. Dutton and Mark Bodnarchuk 2. Through a Feminist Lens: "Gender, Diversity, and Violence: Extending the Feminist Framework" - Kersti A. Ylloe 3. Through a Sociological Lens: "The Complexities of Family Violence" - Donileen R. Loseke SECTION II: CONTROVERSIES IN DEFINITION AND MEASUREMENT Issue 2: Women's Violence Toward Men: A Serious Social Problem? 4. Women's Violence Towrad Men is a Serious Social Problem - Murray A. Straus 5. "Men's Violence Toward Women is the Serious Social Problem" - Donileen R. Loseke and Demie Kurz Issue 3: Date and Acquaintance Rape: Exaggerated Problems? 6. "More Data Have Accumulated Supporting Date and Acquaintance Rape as Significant Problems" - Mary P. Koss and Sarah L. Cook 7. "Advocacy Research Overstates the Incidence of Date and Acquaintance Rape" - Neil Gilbert Issue 4: Spanking: Necessary and Effective? 8. "Proper Socialization Requires Powerful Love and Equally Powerful Discipline" - John Rosemond 9. "Children Should Never, Ever, Be Spanked No Matter What the Circumstances" - Murray A. Straus SECTION III: CONTROVERSIES IN CAUSE Introduction to Section Issue 5: Alcohol and Addictive Drugs: The Causes of Violence? 10. "Alcohol and Other Drugs are Key Causal Agents of Violence" - Jerry R. Flanzer 11. "Association is not Causation: Alcohol and Other Drugs Do Not Cause Violence" - Richard J. Gelles and Mary M. Cavanaugh Issue 6: Abused Elderly and Their Abusive Offspring: Who is Dependent? 12. "Elder Abuse is Caused by the Perception of Stress Associated with Providing Care" - Suzanne K. Steinmetz 13. "Elder Abuse is Caused by the Deviance and Dependence of Abusive Caregivers" - Karl Pillemer SECTION IV: CONTROVERSIES IN SOCIAL INTERVENTION Introduction to Section Issue 7: The Battered Woman's Syndrome: A Sensible Legal Defense? - Sue Osthoff and Holly Maguigan 14. The Self-Defense Claims of Battered Women - Sue Osthoff and Holly Maguigan 15. "Battered Woman's Syndrome: Tool of Justice or False Hope in Self-Defense Cases?" 14 - Donald A. Downs and James Fisher Issue 8: Child Sexual Abuse Education: Good Prevention? 16. "Child Sexual Abuse Prevention is Appropriate and Successful" - Carol A. Plummer 17. "Problems with Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs" - N. Dickon Reppucci, Jeffrey J. Haugaard, Jill Antonishak Issue 9: Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting: Too Much or Too Little? Issue 9: Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting: Too Much or Too Little? 18. Overreporting and Underreporting Child Abuse and Neglect are Twin Problems - Douglas J. Besharov 19. "The Main Problem is Underreporting Child Abuse and Neglect" - David Finkelhor Issue 10: Family Preservation: An Important Goal in Child Abuse Intervention? 20. "Family Preservation is the Safest Way to Protect Most Children" - Richard Wexler 21. "Protecting Children is More Important than Preserving Families" - Richard J. Gelles Conclusion: "Social Problems, Social Policies, and Controversies on Family Violence" Index Editor's Bio's Contributing Author Bios