Current Controversies on Family Violence

The study of family violence is surrounded by a myriad of controversies.

The study of family violence is surrounded by multiple controversies. Experts in this field do not agree about what should be studied and condemned (Is spanking violence? Is women's violence toward men a major social problem? If it is, how should it be measured? What, specifically, should be condemned as date rape?) Experts also disagree about the causes of violence (Individual pathology? The structure of gender or families?), as well as about what should be done to eliminate it (Do child sexual abuse education programs or family preservation programs work?). Now in its Second Edition, Current Controversies on Family Violence contains thoughtful--often heated--discussions that highlight the most current controversies, research, and policy directions in the family violence issue. This volume includes chapters by academic and public policy researchers, therapists, lawyers, victim advocates and educators. Some of the controversies in the first edition have been deleted while new ones have been added. Chapters in this Second Edition also are shorter and more accessible to readers who are not already experts in family violence.This is an excellent and necessary resource for students and researchers of interpersonal violence, sociology, social work, nursing, gender studies, clinical psychology, criminal justice, and gerontology.

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. Yllo 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