Clarifying the Complex Roles of Power and Control in Advancing Theories of Intimate Partner Violence
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2020
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_141-1
Abstract
Power and control have always been central concepts to understanding intimate partner violence (IPV) and are important factors across many theories of intimate partner violence. However, both power and control are difficult concepts to define, measure, and distinguish from each other. Several new conceptual frameworks of power, control, and IPV are emerging that offer more detailed definitions of power and control, allowing for additional testable hypotheses. These new theoretical ideas are still in early development with limited support, but they are a step toward broadening our understanding of the role of power and control in intimate partner violence. This chapter will review the various historical theoretical explanations of IPV related to power and control. Next, it will present emerging IPV theories that are working to clearly delineate power and control in definition and measurement and to be able to develop testable hypotheses about the causal pathway between power, control, and IPV. This is important because the notion that IPV is about power and control underscores most batterer intervention programs and current educational awareness curricula.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Clarifying the Complex Roles of Power and Control in Advancing Theories of Intimate Partner Violence, in R. Geffner, J. W. White, L. K. Hamberger, A. Rosenbaum, V. Vaughan-Eden & V. I. Vieth (Eds.), Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan, Springer, p. 1-18
Scholar Commons Citation
Wagers, Shelly; Hamberger, L. Kevin; and Sellers, Christine S., "Clarifying the Complex Roles of Power and Control in Advancing Theories of Intimate Partner Violence" (2020). Criminology Faculty Publications. 61.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cjp_facpub/61
