The heterogeneity of family violence and its implications for practice

Abstract

Reviews on the causes of aggression in the family have emphasised the extensive overlap between all forms of partner violence and child maltreatment. However, research into family violence has often investigated child and partner maltreatment as separate entities, frequently\ud examining the violent man in order to understand the correlates and potential causes of his violent behaviour within the family. This review highlights the importance of examining intimate partner violence within the context of the family. First the violent man is considered in\ud isolation, exploring the heterogeneity of men who abuse and murder their female partner and the implications this has for future practice and research. Second, taking into account the overlap of partner and child maltreatment and the reciprocal nature of intimate partner violence, the utility of examining family violence from a more family focused perspective is considered. It is concluded that an integrated perspective will increase interagency collaboration and integrative treatment for the family