Fall 2005

PSY 333V • Family Violence

Course Description

This course provides an overview to the problem of family violence, with an emphasis on psychological issues. We will study maltreatment across the lifespan but focus on child maltreatment (physical & sexual abuse, neglect, psychological maltreatment) and intimate partner violence, along with related topics (i.e., children exposed to marital violence.) Psychological issues concerning survivors (such as why they are affected) as well as perpetrators (why do they do it) will be examined. Some attention will be devoted to historical and cross-cultural maltreatment of women and children, competing theories of maltreatment, methodological issues, as well as legal and social solutions. A variety of controversial issues will be examined, including: whether physical punishment of children should be considered abusive; whether abuse can ever be "beneficial;" whether women are as violent as men; and whether battered women are justified in killing their abusive partner.

Grading Policy

Exams: 3 midterms - 75%
Paper: 2 short papers (2 page) paper - 10% each

Texts

a) Barnett, O., Miller-Perrin, C., & Perrin, R. (2004). Family violence across the lifespan (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage b) supplemental readings

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