Examination of Group Based Domestic Violence Perpetrator Intervention Processes

ABSTRACT

This study examined the responses of domestic violence perpetrators to group treatment by conducting observations with 12 men from two 10-week two-group interventions who had received a no-contact order. Thematic analysis was applied to the observation notes. The participants often indicated improved awareness and behavior change through expressing feelings of shame, learning alternative behaviors, and acquiring new techniques. Conversely, the normalization of violence, social expectations, gendered stereotypes, and masculinity crises were identified as barriers. The findings indicate that learning and implementing new strategies for healthy and respectful intimate relationships can help men take responsibility for their abusive acts.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioral change
• domestic violence
• group work
• interventions
• perpetrators

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This empirical research was a part of the project of “The Implementation of Healthy and Respectful Relationship Program” was funded by Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK) (Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council) between 2021 and 2023. The award number was 121K732.

Notes on contributors

Zeynep Turhan

Zeynep Turhan, MSW, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at Bartin University in Türkiye. She specializes in psychology, domestic violence, and intervention approaches. Her research concentrates on understanding and improving strategies for addressing violent behavior within families, particularly through interventions aimed at perpetrators of domestic violence. Additionally, she explores the experiences of domestic violence survivors and their engagement in individual, group, and community-based interventions.

Ece Parlak Ünlü

Ece Parlak Ünlü is a doctoral candidate at Ankara University’s Department of Social Work and works as a research assistant at Bartin University. Her academic interests encompass family counseling, mediation, women’s welfare, clinical social work, and social work education.

İhsan Çağatay Ulus

İhsan Çağatay Ulus, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance at Bartin University. His areas of expertise include the adaptation challenges of foreign students, ethics and supervision in counseling, lifelong and adult education, trauma and grief counseling, crisis intervention, post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents, communication skills, stress management, coping strategies, and anger management.

Sefa Bulut

Sefa Bulut, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology at İbn Haldun University. His research interests include PTSD, ADHD, bullying, mobbing, gerontology, child sexual abuse and neglect, bibliotherapy, and life history research.