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Engaging Abusive Men in Seeking Community Intervention: A Critical Research & Practice Priority

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Abstract

The present study investigated effective strategies for engaging abusive men and preventing the reoccurrence or escalation of violence against women. Seventy-three men solicited from a community program for male batterers completed a questionnaire regarding help-seeking behaviors. Of these participants, 12 participated in subsequent focus group discussions. Approximately two-thirds of the participants identified they had sought help regarding the problems in their intimate relationships; however, only half of them actually received help that addressed their violent behaviors. Furthermore, of those participants who received help, only one-quarter found the help to be useful or effective. When reviewing both the questionnaire responses and focus group transcripts, several help-seeking themes emerged from the data including numerous missed opportunities to intervene, men’s view of masculinity and help-seeking, and the critical role of developing trust, non-judgmental and confidential counseling relationships. The results have implications for both public education campaigns and training of professionals to address domestic violence issues in male clients.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge Changing Ways, a Partner Assault Response agency in London, Ontario, Canada for allowing access to clients for the purpose of the research study. This work was supported by a grant from United Way to Peter G. Jaffe.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children, 1137 Western Road, Room 118, London, ON, Canada

    Marcie Campbell, Jenny A. Neil & Peter G. Jaffe

  2. Faculty of Education Building, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, N6G 1G7

    Peter G. Jaffe

  3. Changing Ways, Batterer Intervention Agency, London, ON, Canada

    Tim Kelly

Authors
  1. Marcie Campbell
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  2. Jenny A. Neil
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  3. Peter G. Jaffe
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  4. Tim Kelly
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter G. Jaffe.

Appendices

Appendix 1

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Appendix 2

Focus Group Questions Related to Male Batterer’s Help-Seeking Behaviours

  1. 1.

    Do you think anyone knew that there were problems in your relationship?

  2. 2.

    Do you think you needed help?

  3. 3.

    Did you ask anyone for help regarding the troubles in your relationship before attending Changing Ways? For example, a physician, an individual counselor, a friend, family, etc.

  4. 4.

    Did you receive any help? If so, was it useful? Why or why not?

  5. 5.

    Whether or not you have asked for help in the past, who do you think would be the most beneficial person to go to for getting help and information regarding your behaviours?

  6. 6.

    What reasons can you give for not asking for help?

  7. 7.

    If someone approached you to discuss your behaviours and relationship troubles and they offered help, how do you think you would respond? Why?

  8. 8.

    If someone was to approach you to discuss your behaviours and volunteer help, who would you like that person(s) to be?

  9. 9.

    More specifically, how would you like that person(s) to approach you when offering help?

  10. 10.

    Do you know if your (ex) partner talked to anyone about the problems in your relationship?

  11. 11.

    If she did speak to someone, who was that person?

  12. 12.

    How did you feel and respond to your (ex) partner discussing your problems in your relationship with that person?

  13. 13.

    Have you ever offered help to anyone that you know who was being abusive towards their partner?

  14. 14.

    If you have offered help, how did you approach the individual? Was it effective? Why or why not?

  15. 15.

    What reasons did you have for approaching the individual?

  16. 16.

    What reasons did you have for not approaching the individual?

  17. 17.

    In the future, would you seek out help if these problems arise again?

  18. 18.

    How would you go about asking for help?

  19. 19.

    Who would you ask for help and why?

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Campbell, M., Neil, J.A., Jaffe, P.G. et al. Engaging Abusive Men in Seeking Community Intervention: A Critical Research & Practice Priority. J Fam Viol 25, 413–422 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9302-z

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