An Analysis Of Lenore Walker s The Battered Woman

In 1979, Lenore Walker published The Battered Woman which became instrumental in addressing abused women (Bartol Bartol, 2012). Lenore E. Walker is a leading authority in partner abuse, Walker coined the term cycle theory of violence (Wallace Roberson, 2014). Walker’s book provided an academic look into lives of abused women while also debunking myths associated with abused women (Rutherford MacKay, 2013). She also developed the battered woman syndrome; the syndrome discusses two aspects of the dynamics of abuse, the cycle of abuse and learned helplessness (Rutherford MacKay, 2013). This cycle of abuse does not discuss the cause of IPV but rather the dynamics of this type of relationship (Wallace Roberson, 2014). Prior research conducted on other theories related to the cycle of violence have found results similar to Walker’s findings (McMahon, Hoertel, Wall, Okuda, Limosin, Blanco, 2015). Walker claims the abuse is cyclical and consists of three different p hases (Wallace Roberson, 2014). The three distinct phases within Walker’s theory are the tension-building phase, the explosion phase, and the â€Å"honeymoon† phase (Rutherford MacKay, 2013; Wallace Roberson, 2014). The tension building phase begins with minimal abuse but the threat of future violence increases (Rutherford MacKay, 2013). The victim may feel angry, unfairly treated, tense, afraid, and depressed during this phase and may not express feelings, may use alcohol/drugs, become nurturingShow MoreRelatedThe Controversial Concept Of Battered Woman Syndrome1121 Words   |  5 PagesBattered Woman Syndrome The controversial concept of Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) is a psychological theory that aims to explain the behavior of certain women who suffer abuse from their husbands, partners, or significant others. The theory was first proposed and introduced by Dr. Lenore Walker in the 1970’s based on her clinical observations. It then quickly became a common way to validate criminal behavior of women who were charged with the murder of their partner, however since the syndromeRead MoreDomestic Violence And Public Violence Essay1231 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom women’s experiences with abuse (Zorza, 1998). Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she earned her BA from the College of St Scholastica in Duluth and a PhD from the University of Toronto. Her mother inspired her to be an activist and, as a young woman, Ellen became involved in anti-war, civil rights and homelessness issues. In 1975 she joined the feminist movement against domestic violence, and five years later she moved to D uluth, where, with a group of friends, she came up with the Duluth modelRead MoreBattered Woman Syndrome And The National Institute Of Justice1585 Words   |  7 Pagesher lifetime (Battered Woman Syndrome, 2012). 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United States courtrooms, instead of protecting battered womenRead MoreI Will Cover Healthy Vs. Unhealthy Relationships2087 Words   |  9 Pagescommunication, absence in trust and respect, unequal power, and the inability to communicate due to fear are common signs of an unhealthy relationship. These factors increase the chances of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse. In a relationship the woman is most likely to be the victim due to â€Å"Nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.† (Commonwealth Fund Survey, 1998.) Dr. Susan Hanks, director of the familyRead MoreThe Patterns And Trends Of Domestic Abuse2204 Words   |  9 Pages(Groves and Thomas, 2014). Patterns and Trends The occurrence of DA often follows three main phases by stated in Lenore E. Walker’s 1984 Cycle of Violence model, consisting of; â€Å"tension building† – attempting to placate the abuser, â€Å"explosion† – infliction of abuse, and â€Å"honeymoon† - the abuser apologizes, promising won’t occur again, or a period without tension, as cited by Walker (1989). This is a feminist model, focusing on male-on-female DA although is arguably lacking in empirical supportRead MoreCase Lavern Longsworth V The Queen Judgment 115046 Words   |  61 Pages______ BEFORE: The Hon. Mr. Justice Dennis Morrison The Hon. Mr. Justice Samuel Awich The Hon. Madam Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram Justice of Appeal Justice of Appeal Justice of Appeal G. P. Smith S. C. along with L. Mendes for the appellant C. Vidal S.C., Director of Public Prosecutions, along with S. Smith for the respondent ______ 10, 21 and 27 June, and 7 November 2014 HAFIZ-BERTRAM JA Introduction [1] On 15 July 2010, Lavern Longsworth (‘the appellant’) threw some kind of accelerant