Spouse Abuse: Theoretical Framework and up to Date Research Findings
Spouse Abuse: Theoretical Framework and up to Date Research Findings

Summary/Abstract: After introductory remarks on the notion of the spouse abuse, the theories on spouse abuse are analyzed and up to date research findings are reviewed. Psychological, psychiatric, socio-psychological, sociological, economical and feminist theories are analyzed. Among psychological theories, special attention is paid to both learned helplessness and survivor theory and their impact to the practical work with battered wives. The author points out the importance of survivor theory which calls attention to one of the major problems related to spouse abuse: the absence of conditions and willingness for supporting battered wives within institutions of patriarchal society. Special emphasis is put on feminist explanations of spouse abuse which all claim that the roots of spouse abuse are in power inequality between women and man in both society at large and personal, i.e. spouse relations. As the author points out, research findings suggest that there are some common features of spouse abuse. These are: family transgression of violence as well as spouse abuse relation to unemployment, financial problems, alcohol, social isolation and violence against children. As the conclusion the author points out that changing existing sexist organization of society and the ideology which justify it, is the only way toward the elimination of wives battering as one of various forms of violence on which women have been exposed trough the history and in the contemporary society too.

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