Exploring the dynamics between victim and offender is paramount to answering important issues of character and vital for forensic research. This involves examining the role of the victim during and after victimization; this process is especially important for spousal violence because of the interactive process between the victim and the offender.Forensic Psychology of Spousal Violence covers the phenomenon of spousal violence and its different forms, discussing the consequences of abuse, providing research tips to be used in the field, including relevant case studies and much more. The innovative approach of this text fills a void in the current understanding of spousal violence. - Uses international statistics to present data of women battered and/or deceased to educate, change mindsets and practices and ultimately reduce the number of battered women and spousal homicides in the future - Includes current case studies - Includes best practices for spousal abuse investigations - Portable for use in fieldwork

Women rarely kill. How and why a woman can be driven to lethal action is often highly complex and misunderstood. Many of these women who act lethally are driven to such a point as a last resort following prolonged experiences of child abuse and/or domestic violence. This book offers insights into these women, detailing their motivations, their patterns of violence, and how they can be aided through psychological evaluation and proper expert testimony. The chapters in this volume also include discussions of women who did not kill but were punished as if they had. This collection of writings seeks to fill the gaps in research on women who kill. This book is beneficial to students and researchers of Psychology including Forensic Psychology. It will further aid the field of criminal justice as well as policymakers such that clinicians can provide an enhanced understanding on various psychological and demographic factors which contribute to situations where battered women reach a point where the only option to ensure survival is lethal self-defense. Finally, this book offers clarity as it points out the areas in which the legal system has failed these women. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.

Domestic violence is a major public health concern, affecting millions worldwide. It is underreported, often devastating and sometimes ends in murder. In Toxic Couples: The Psychology of Domestic Violence, Anna Motz integrates psychological and criminological data with clinical illustrations and discussion of current high-profile cases. She examines the complex manifestations and multiple causes of intimate partner violence. Motz disentangles the roles played by those involved and examines the addictive nature of these damaging partnerships. The book describes various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional, and analyses how intimate partner violence can escalate to murder. She explores important factors including: the role of addiction; homelessness and vulnerability; the intergenerational transmission of abuse; sadomasochistic relationships; honour-based violence. The book emphasizes the significance of female- as well as male-perpetrated violence and outlines the powerful impact on the children of abusive parents, extending the clinical awareness of professionals working with those affected. Toxic Couples: The Psychology of Domestic Violence is ideal for clinicians working with the victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence, for students of psychology, gender studies and social care courses and for anyone interested in the psychological forces behind violence in relationships. ]

Author and forensic consultant Victoria Hargan reveals personality traits and characteristics that may be responsible for the high risk of domestic violence perpetrated by police officers. Police Personality and Domestic Violence offers a forensic psychological approach and review of literature on the scope of the problem when domestic violence is committed by a police officer. Research suggests that personality traits of police officers are similar to domestic abusers and that it is these very traits that make police officers effective at police work. Personality characteristics such as authoritative, aggressive, assertive, controlling and suspicious help the officer in his duties. These same personality traits are also negative traits in battering relationships. Domestic violence perpetrated by police officers is a result of multifaceted dynamics, including the individual police officer's personality, police culture, police training, and exposure to violence on the job, a sense of entitlement, and influence of the administration of the police agency. These dynamics may predispose police officers to domestic violence. This book offers suggestions for the pre-selection of police candidates, in addition to reviewing the psychological instruments used in police selection. A must read for forensic evaluators, the law enforcement community, and the medical and mental health communities.

Many families turn to mental health professionals for advice and counseling on how to cope with the stresses of legal crises. The first and only book of its kind, this handbook provides mental health professionals with comprehensive coverage of the interface between the legal and family systems. Organized by developmental stages, the book covers a wide range of topics including pre-nuptial agreements, divorce, child custody, adoption, spousal abuse; gay, bisexual, and lesbian issues; family business succession, and euthanasia.

This text provides a complete overview of the applications of psychology to the law. Incorporating the contributions of social and clinical psychology, this new text presents the material with an objective view towards the complete scope of the subject matter. In its clear coverage of the fundamentals of this field, it is an invaluable introduction for students, as well as a reference for practitioners.

In this state-of-the-art treatment manual, Lenore E.A. Walker contends that traditional psychotherapies for trauma victims have been insufficient in treating abused women. As the problem of violence against women continues to plague society, cutting across all demographic sectors, Walker describes critical modifications to traditional practice that will allow practitioners to work more effectively with female victims of abuse. These modifications result in an integrated compilation of the most successful assessment and intervention strategies, called survivor therapy.