An Evaluation of a Group Treatment Program for Incarcerated Male Batterers

Abstract

This study evaluated a treatment program, Relating Without Violence (RWV), designed to (a) ameliorate psychological and emotional factors believed to contribute to domestic violence and (b) strengthen conflict resolution skills in perpetrators of domestic violence. Subjects were 57 perpetrators who participated in RWV, 20 perpetrators who did not, and 24 offenders with no history of any violence. Measures included the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), the Personality Research Form (PRF), and the Adapted Conflict Tactics Scale (ACTS). The abusive-treatment group demonstrated greater improvement on the ACTS and the PRF Aggression and Defendance Scales than the untreated abusive group. All three groups improved on the TSCS, PRF Impulsivity, and PRF Nurturance. It was concluded that the program met its treatment objectives. However, a limitation of the study was the lack of postrelease follow-up to examine effects on domestic violence in the community.

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