Stages of Change in Batterers and Their Response to Treatment

One important dimension of individual differences among batterers is their readiness to change. According to the transtheoretical model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1984), all individuals go through precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance before a change in behavior is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Violence and victims 2008-01, Vol.23 (4), p.476-492
Main Authors: Alexander, Pamela C., Morris, Eugene
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Attitude to Health
Behavior
Behavior Modification
Behavioral Sciences
Cognitive Therapy - methods
Conflicts
Counseling
Domestic violence
Family Violence
Humans
Male
Males
Marriage and Family Counselling
Middle Aged
Models, Psychological
Motivation
Offenders
Partner Abuse
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology
Policy, Social Justice, and Human Rights
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychology
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Rhode Island
Self Efficacy
Self-Assessment
Severity of Illness Index
Smoking cessation
Social and Personality Psychology
Social Work
Spouse Abuse - therapy
Treatment Methods
Treatment Outcomes
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Summary:One important dimension of individual differences among batterers is their readiness to change. According to the transtheoretical model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1984), all individuals go through precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance before a change in behavior is accomplished. The applicability of this model to intimate partner violence was assessed by administering the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) scales (with reference to their domestic violent behavior) to 210 court-ordered male batterers. Their responses were clustered, and two clusters were derived and then compared on other measures. As hypothesized, cluster 2 individuals (characterized by a profile of URICA scale scores suggesting an earlier stage of change) self-reported less initial distress (depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse), less violence, and fewer problems with anger than cluster 1 individuals (characterized by URICA scale sores suggesting a later stage of change), although partners reported no difference in violence perpetrated by the two clusters. Cluster 1 individuals evidenced greater improvement in self-reported depression, anxiety, and anger control. Strategies to engage the more resistant cluster 2 individuals as well as suggestions for future research are considered.
ISSN:0886-6708
1945-7073
DOI:10.1891/0886-6708.23.4.476