Paradoxical punishment as it relates to the battered woman syndrome.

نویسندگان

  • G M Long
  • J R McNamara
چکیده

The main goal of this article is to suggest some processes by which the behavioral interactions of an abusive couple can be developed and maintained. A summary of these processes as they have been adapted from the animal analog and human research follows. First, the pairing of abuse (punishment) with love and affection (reinforcement) could indicate that the battered woman responds to the reinforcement that follows an abusive incident. Second, the battered woman may seek to escape the fear of the tension-building phase but during the escape behavior she is punished (physical abuse), which fortifies and strengthens her initial fear. However, after the abusive incident, there is an absence of tension and fear (negative reinforcement) compounded by the positive reinforcement of the contrition phase. Thus, a cyclical pattern of behavior evolves and sustains itself. Possibly augmenting the vicious cycle is habituation or negative adaptation to the physical abuse, as well as the lack of opportunities to learn adaptive behavioral responses that may break the cycle of violence. Finally, the need for primary reinforcement (i.e., love and affection) may be so powerful that it somewhat mitigates the abuse endured to obtain it.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Admissibility of Battered- Spouse-syndrome Evidence in Alaska

Despite the exceptionally high rates of domestic violence in Alaska, Alaskan jurisprudence affords battered women varied and sparse guidance for the use of their experience as a battered woman in criminal trials. Of the minimal guidance offered, none arises in the form of a binding Alaska Supreme Court opinion, rule of evidence, or governing statute. As one of the few states lacking established...

متن کامل

The battered woman syndrome: effects of severity and intermittency of abuse.

The concept of a battered woman syndrome was tested by assessing 50 battered women and 25 emotionally abused women who had recently left their relationships. For both groups, essential features of the syndrome were present and were significantly interrelated. Dynamic features of the prior abusive relationship correlated significantly with these sequelae. The concept of intermittency is proposed...

متن کامل

Achieving Peace of Mind: The Benefits of Neurobiological Evidence for Battered Women Defendants

Despite its potential to diminish the culpability of battered women accused of crimes, neurobiological evidence has yet to be meaningfully deployed in the interest of these defendants. This Article describes how neurobiological evidence can provide insights into the effects of battering, at both an individual and ecological level. Domestic violence prevention advocates and medical professionals...

متن کامل

Effect of Premenstrual Syndrome on Delinquency

Background and aim: The criminal response to the crime is stopped and affected by the emergence of several elements such as the legal element, the material element and the spiritual element. The lack of any of these elements impairs the criminal capacity of individuals. Mental illness and disorders are among the factors that change the punishment due to its effect on the psychological element o...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • Behavior modification

دوره 13 2  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 1989