The Batterer as Parent
Addressing the Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics

Moving beyond the narrow clinical perspective this book offers a view that takes into account the complex ways in which a batterer's abusive and controlling behaviors are woven into the fabric of daily life.

The book includes detailed, specific recommendations for a wide range of practitioners, including domestic violence professionals, therapists, custody evaluators, family court personnel, juvenile court personnel, child protective personnel, parent educators, and visitation supervisors.

Foreword Preface 1. The Battering Problem

Defining Batterers

Characteristics of Batterers

Misconceptions About Batterers

Summary 2. Power Parenting: The Batterer's Style With Children

Typical Characteristics of Batterers as Parents

Effects on Children of Exposure to Domestic Violence

Child Abuse

The Batterer as Role Model

Children's Outlook on the Batterer

Summary 3. Shock Waves: The Batterer's Impact on the Home

Undermining of the Mother's Authority

Effects on Mother-Child Relationships

Use of Children as Weapons Against the Mother

The Batterer's Impact on Other Aspects of Family Functioning

Resilience in Mother-Child and in Sibling Relationships

Summary 4. The Batterer as Incest Perpetrator

Review of Studies

The Predatory Child Molester Versus the Incest Perpetrator

Shared Tactics of Batterers and Incest Perpetrators

Shared Attitudes of Batterers and Incest Perpetrators

Implications of the Overlap for Professional Response

Sexual Abuse Allegations in Custody and Visitation Disputes

Summary 5. Impeding Recovery: The Batterer as Parent Postseparation

Creating a Context for Children's Healing

Batterers' Postseparation Conduct With Children

Batterers' Motivations for Seeking Custody or Increased Visitation

Batterers' Advantages in Custody Disputes

Batterers' Tactics in Custody and Visitation Disputes

Effects on Children of Custody Litigation

Summary 6. The Mismeasure of Batterers as Parents: A Critique of Prevailing Theories and Assessment

Influential Theories of Divorce

The Use of a Domestic Violence Typology to Assess Risk to Children

Risk to Children: The Overlooked Implications of Johnston, Campbell, and Roseby's Own Observations

Summary 7. Supporting Recovery: Assessing Risk to Children From Batterers and Structuring Visitation

Sources of Risk to Children From Unsupervised Contact With Batterers

A Guide to Assessing Risk to Children From Batterers

Structuring Custody and Visitation

Summary 8. Is It Real?
Assessing and Fostering Change in Batterers as Parents

Steps to Change in Batterers

Misconceptions Regarding Change in Batterers

Evaluating Change in Batterers as Parents

Creating a Context for Change

Summary 9. Improving Community Responses to the Parenting of Batterers

Children's Advocates, Child and Family Therapists, and Programs for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Custody Evaluators

Family Courts

Child Protection Systems and Courts With Protective Jurisdiction

Parent Trainers

Psychological Evaluators

Batterer Programs and Fatherhood Programs

Battered Women's Programs

Supervised Visitation Centers

Family Lawyers and Bar Associations

Police Departments

Researchers

Summary References Index About the Authors