The Batterer as Parent: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics(Sage Series on Violence Against Women)

'This is by far the clearest and most insightful book to appear on domestic violence and custody issues, thoroughly grounded in both the research and the court system. An indispensable tool and a breakthrough, it is must reading for anyone handling the 50% of custody cases where domestic violence issues arise' - Joan Zorza, Editor, Domestic Violence Report The Batterer as Parent takes the reader inside of homes affected by domestic violence, imparting an understanding of the atmosphere that battering men create for the children who live with them. Bancroft and Silverman show how partner abuse affects each relationship in a family, and explains how children's emotional recovery is inextricably linked to the healing and empowerment of their mothers. The authors cover the important but often-overlooked area of the post-separation parenting behaviours of men who batter, including their use of custody litigation as a tool of abuse. Readers also are guided in evaluating change in the parenting of men who batter, assessing risk to children from unsupervised visitation, and supporting the emotional recovery of children.Although the book is written primarily for professionals, its accessible style makes it engaging and useful for abused mothers and anyone else wishing to assist children exposed to battering.

Table of Contents:
1. The Battering Problem Defining Batterers Characteristics of Batterers Misconceptions About Batterers Summary 2. Power Parenting: The Batterer's Style With Children Typical Characteristics of Batterers as Parents Effects on Children of Exposure to Domestic Violence Child Abuse The Batterer as Role Model Children's Outlook on the Batterer Summary 3. Shock Waves: The Batterer's Impact on the Home Undermining of the Mother's Authority Effects on Mother-Child Relationships Use of Children as Weapons Against the Mother The Batterer's Impact on Other Aspects of Family Functioning Resilience in Mother-Child and in Sibling Relationships Summary 4. The Batterer as Incest Perpetrator - Lundy Bancroft and Margaret Miller Review of Studies The Predatory Child Molestor Versus the Incest Perpetrator Shared Tactics of Batterers and Incest Perpetrators Shared Attitudes of Batterers and Incest Perpetrators Implications of the Overlap for Professional Response Sexual Abuse Allegations in Custody and Visitation Disputes Summary 5. Impeding Recovery: The Batterer in Custody and Visitation Disputes Creating a Context for Children's Healing Batterers' Postseparation Conduct With Children Batterers' Motivations for Seeking Custody or Increased Visitation Batterers' Advantages in Custody Disputes Batterers' Tactics in Custody and Visitation Disputes Effects on Children of Custody Litigation Summary 6. The Mismeasure of Batterers as Parents: A Critique of Prevailing Theories of Assessment Influential Theories of Divorce The Use of a Domestic Violence Typology to Assess Risk to Children The Overlooked Implications of Johnston, Campbell, and Roseby's Own Observations Summary 7. Supporting Recovery: Assessing Risk to Children form Batterers and Structuring Visitation Sources of Risk to Children From Unsupervised Contact With Batterers A Guide to Assessing Risk to Children From Batterers Structuring Custody and Visitation Summary 8. Is It Real?: Assessing and Fostering Change in Batterers as Parents Steps to Change in Batterers Misconceptions Regarding Change in Batterers Evaluating Change in Batterers as Parents Creating a Context for Change Summary 9. Improving Community Responses to the Parenting of Batterers Child Therapists, Family Therapists, and Programs for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Custody Evaluators Family Courts Agencies and Courts With Child Protective Jurisdiction Parent Trainers Psychological Evaluators Batterer Programs Battered Women's Programs Supervised Visitation Centers Family Lawyers and Bar Associations Summary References Index About the Authors

Review :
"This book is a much needed beginning in the effort to examine the parenting of batterers in a more systematic manner. In addition, the book compels us to consider the significant gaps in out empirical knowledge of battering and family dynamics. The Batterer as Parent is an invaluable resource and reference book for professionals and students working with this population." -- Shanti Kulkarni 20060821 "This book beautifully educates the reader on the world in which batterers live and raise their children. Judges, lawyers, and others in decision-making roles will find this information very helpful in crafting appropriate decisions regarding a child's safe contact with a battering parent." -- Judge Bobbi Alpers "Excellent. I've been waiting for this book. It is a crisp, cogent, comprehensive exegesis on batterers, their parenting styles, their custody litigation practices, and the adverse impact of their violence on battered mothers and their children. A must read for attorneys, advocates, custody evaluators, judges, and batterer intervention service providers." -- Barbara Hart "This is by far the clearest and most insightful book to appear on domestic violence and custody issues. An indispensable tool and a breakthrough for anyone handling the 50% of custody cases where domestic violence issues arise. This practitioner book is thoroughly grounded in intimate knowledge of both the research and the court system and is must reading for lawyers, therapists, GAL's, custody evaluators, judges, and domestic violence advocates who are handling these cases." -- Joan Zorza "Critically informative for those who work directly with victims or abusers. The authors provide a comprehensive road map to the many problems batterers exhibit as parents, how these affect children, and what can be done about it." -- David Adams, Ed.D. "This is a groundbreaking work that elucidates the complexity of the family dynamics engendered by a batterer's presence in the home. Grounded in a sophisticated understanding of psychological trauma, and offering important recommendations for assessment and treatment, this book should be required reading for all professionals who work with parents or children affected by domestic violence." -- Beth Tabor Lev, Ph.D.