|
|
|
| Duration and Severity Level of Woman Battering Continuum |
| 1+ |
Short-Term (n=94) |
Less than 1 year (dating relationship); mild to moderate intensity
|
1-3 incidents |
| 2+ |
Intermediate (n=104) |
Several month to 2 years (cohabitating or married); moderate to severe injuries
|
3-15 incidents |
| 3+ |
Intermittent Long-Term (n=38) |
Severe and intense violent episode without warning; long periods without violence, then another violent episode; married with children
|
4-30 incidents |
| 4+ |
Chronic and Predictable (n=160) |
Severe repetitive incidents; frequent predictable pattern; violence often precipitated by alcohol or polydrug abuse; married with children
|
Usually several hundred violent acts per woman |
| 5+ |
Homicidal (n=105) |
Violence escalates to murder/manslaughter precipitated by explicit death threats and life threatening injuries (cohabitating or married)
|
Usually several hundred violent acts per woman |
| Psycho-social Variables and the 5-Level Woman Battering Continuum |
| 1+ |
Short-Term (n=94) |
Usually middle-class and steady dating relationship (severity, e.g., push, shove, and sometimes sever beating; woman leaves after first or second abusive act; caring support system, e.g., parents or police)
|
| 2+ |
Intermediate (n=104) |
Usually middle-class and recently married or living together (severity, e.g., punch, kick, chokehold, or severe beating; woman leaves due to bruises or injury; caring support system, e.g., new boyfriend or parents)
|
| 3+ |
Intermittent Long-Term (n=38) |
Usually upper-middle or upper social class, staying together for children or status/prestige of wealthy husband (woman stays until children grow up and leave home; no alternative support system)
|
| 4+ |
Chronic and Predictable (n=160) |
Usually lower socioeconomic or middle-class, often devout Catholic with school-age children at home (abuse continues until husband is arrested, is hospitalized, or dies; husband is blue-collar, skilled or semi-skilled)
|
| 5+ |
Homicidal (n=105) |
Usually lower socioeconomic class, high long-term unemployment, limited education (majority of battered woman dropped out of high-school; women usually suffer from PTSD and BWS)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
