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Life-Course Development of Reformed Maritally Violent Men

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Life-Course Development of Reformed Maritally Violent Men LIFE-COURSE DEVELOPMENT OF REFORMED MARITALLY VIOLENT MEN by YURIKO RIESEN B.A., Tsuda College, Tokyo, Japan, 1992 M.A., The University of British Columbia, 1999 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Human Learning, Development and Instruction) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA September 2006 © Yuriko Riesen, 2006 ABSTRACT How do boys grow up to be maritally violent? How do maritally violent men reform themselves and become violence-free? Little is known. The purpose of the study was to uncover reformed maritally violent men's own accounts of (a) how they developed through life, and (b) how and why these men stopped being maritally violent. A life story was collected in telephone and/or face-to-face interviews from each of six reformed maritally violent men turned into counsellors specializing in marital violence issues. The men ranged in age from 35 to 60, and were not only physical violence-free but also psychological violence-free. The length of time physical violence-free ranged from 10 to 23 years. A life-story method was used in order to understand developmental trajectories of manifestation and cessation of marital violence. Specifically, several developmental themes that could explain the men's use of violence/abuse in intimate relationships were identified: (a) communication difficulties, (b) distant relationships with fathers, (c) male socialization, (d) lack of proper role models, and (e) leaving home early. In addition, the processes of psychological as well as behavioural change were revealed. The study documented life-changing moments (i.e., turning points) and the nature of the therapeutic group counselling program that promoted transformation. Some of the results pertinent to cessation of violence/abuse and its maintenance can be explained by social controls such as (a) attachment to significant others, b) commitment to societal goals and personal aspirations (e.g., social change, career), c) involvement in conventional activities (e.g., work, family and social activities), and d) moral belief (Hirschi, 1969). Finally, the life stories portrayed the men's understanding of their current selves. The men not only ceased their violence/abuse, but also became generative adults who strove to be better persons. The study documented their generativity manifested in their fatherhood and the work they were doing as counsellors. Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii LIST OF TABLES vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background to the Problem 1 1.2 The Roots and Cessation of Marital Violence 2 1.3 The Life-Course Developmental Perspective 3 1.4 Life-Story Method 3 1.5 Purpose of the Study 4 1.6 Defining Marital Violence 4 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 6 2.1 Becoming Maritally Violent 6 2.1.1 Developmental Models 6 2.1.2 Social Learning Models 7 2.1.3 Socio-Environmental Models 8 2.1.4 Biological Models 8 2.2 Changing the Pattern of Marital Violence 10 2.2.1 Quantitative Studies 10 2.2.2 Qualitative Studies 12 2.3 Life-Course Developmental Perspective 14 2.3.1 What is a Life-Course Perspective? 15 2.3.2 Trajectory 16 2.3.3 Transition 16 '2.3.4 Turning Points 16 2.4 Rationale for the Life-Course Developmental Perspective 18 2.5 Methods to Study Lives Using a Life-Course Developmental Perspective 20 2.5.1 Retrospective Versus Prospective Design 20 2.5.2 Methods to Collect Retrospective Biographical Data 22 2.6 Summary 24 2.7 Research Questions 25 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 26 3.1 Participants 26 3.2 The Author's Biases 30 3.3 Data Collection and Analysis 31 3.3.1 Data Collection 31 3.3.2 Transcribing 33 3.3.3 Extraction of Codes 33 3.3.4 Life Story Development 33 IV 3.3.5 Formation of New Questions 33 3.3.6 First Audit Trail 33 3.3.7 Member Check 35 3.3.8 Second Audit Trail 36 3.3.9 Feedback From Colleagues 36 3.3.10 Development of the Study's Themes 37 3.3.11 Final Audit Trail 38 3.4 Design 39 3.5 Summary 39 CHAPTER 4 RESULTS 40 4.1 Life Stories 40 4.1.1 Dan's Life Story 41 4.1.2 Howard's Life Story 44 4.1.3 Mark's Life Story 47 4.1.4 Nick's Life Story 52 4.1.5 Ross's Life Story 54 4.1.6 Steve's Life Story 59 4.2 Factors Contributing to Abuse/Violence 64 4.2.1 Inhibition of Communication 64 4.2.2 Lack of Male Role Models 67 4.2.3 Leaving Home Early 69 4.3 Processes of Psychological Change and its Maintenance 72 4.3.1 Turning Points 72 4.3.2 Counselling Program 75 4.3.3 Staying Non-Violent/Abusive 80 4.4 Personal Growth 84 4.4.1 Self-Understanding 85 4.4.2 Generativity 87 4.5 Summary 91 CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION 92 5.1 Summary of Research Purpose 92 5.2 Origins of Marital Violence 93 5.3 Reasons for Change: A Social Control Perspective 97 5.4 Processes of Change 100 5.5 Turning Points 102 5.6 Counselling as an Intervention 104 5.6.1 Reformed Maritally Violent Men as Counsellors 104 5.6.2 Change is Possible 105 5.6.3 Therapeutic Group Work 105 5.6.4 Fostering Self-Understanding 106 5.7 Culturally Specific Interventions 107 5.8 Implications 108 5.8.1 Group Counselling Interventions 108 5.8.2 Educational Implications 109 5.9 Limitations Ill 5.10 Future Directions Ill 5.11 Conclusions 113 REFERENCES 115 APPENDIX A The Advertisement Placed in Community Newspapers, Posters, and Flyers for Participant Recruitment 131 APPENDIX B The Radio/Television Script for the Purpose of Participant Recruitment \ 132 APPENDIX C The Letter (Electronic Mail) to Practitioners 133 APPENDIX D The Consent Form 135 APPENDIX E Interview Protocol 138 APPENDIX F The Life Satisfaction Chart 139 APPENDIX G Dan's Life Satisfaction Chart 140 APPENDIX H Mark's Life Satisfaction Chart 141 APPENDIX I Ross's Life Satisfaction Chart 143 APPENDIX J Selective Chronology Of The Lives Of The Participants 144 vi LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 Demographic Information for the Participants 28 TABLE J1 Selective Chronology of the Lives of the Participants 144 Vll ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to sincerely acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Marion Porath, Dr. William McKee, arid Dr. Mary Russell whose valuable advice helped me to successfully complete this work. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the late Ms. Alayne Hamilton for her support in data collection. I also thank Dr. Cynthia Andruske for her thorough external audit trail. I am grateful to my husband, Reto Riesen, for his support and encouragement. This study could not have been completed without the support from those six participants who were reformed maritally violent men. 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION "I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see" (Newton, 1779). 1.1 Background to the Problem According to Statistics Canada (2005), 7% of married women (including common-law relationships) were victims of marital violence between 1999 and 2004. In a Canadian study, 27% of women reported to have been abused physically by a husband, live-in partner, boyfriend, or date (Randall & Haskell, 1995). Women who are abused by their intimate partners have to live not only with terror but also with fear of being injured. According to Statistics Canada (2005), in 2004: (a) 44% of female victims of marital violence reported injury as a result of violence, (b) 13% of female victims reported that they sought medical attention, (c) 34% of female victims reported that they fear for their life, and (d) 29% of female victims reported that they have to take time off from their daily activities due to the violence. Campbell and Sheridan (1989) estimated that approximately 20% to 50% of all female emergency patients suffered from injuries inflicted by their marital partners. Indeed, "domestic violence causes more injuries to women than automobile accidents, muggings, and rapes combined" (Koop, cited in Barnett, Miller-Perrin, & Perrin, 1995, p. 187). In addition, marital violence calls are identified as the largest category of emergency calls to the police (Gelles & Cornell, 1990). The most serious form of marital violence is a homicide. In Canada, since 1974, 77% of all the spousal homicides have been against women (Statistics Canada, 2002). In 2003 in Canada, a total of 78 people were killed by their spouse, of which 64 were female victims (Statistics Canada, 2005). According to Crawford and Gartner (1992), 551 of 896 (61%) killings of women in Ontario from 1974 through 1990 were wife murders. Of the wife murders, 297 cases had recorded histories of marital violence; 166 cases had records of threats to the woman; and 130 cases had records of prior police intervention. Thus, marital violence is a serious problem in which women's physical and emotional well- 2 being is damaged, and its costs to public health care and the criminal justice system are taxing. The present study is one endeavour toward an answer to the marital violence problem. Specifically, this study aims to understand the roots and cessation of marital violence by examining the lives of those maritally violent men who have reformed. 1.2 The Roots and Cessation of Marital Violence How do boys grow up to be maritally violent? How do maritally violent men reform themselves and become violence-free? As far as the roots of marital violence go, evidence indicates that there is a link between childhood variables (e.g., witnessing interparental violence) and adulthood manifestation of marital violence (e.g., Whitfield, Anda, Dube, & Felitti, 2003).
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