Browsing by Author "Giesbrecht, Crystal Joy"

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Open Access
Classifying men who perpetrate intimate partner violence: A 50-year systematic review and a new typology applicable to case management
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-11) Giesbrecht, Crystal Joy; Bruer, Kaila; Keown, Leslie Anne; Jones, Nick; Vaughan, Adam; Hilton, Zoe; Scott, Katreena
This dissertation includes two studies: a systematic review of typologies of perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) and a new typology of men who perpetrated IPV created using assessment data collected with the Service Planning Instrument (SPIn™). The systematic review included 177 typologies contained in 201 articles published between 1974 and 2024. Typologies in the review comprised: 1) family-only and generally violent; 2) family-only, generally violent, and borderline/dysphoric; 3) family-only, generally violent, low-level antisocial, and borderline/dysphoric; 4) severity and frequency of violence; 5) reactive and instrumental, 6) situational couple violence and coercive control; 7) personality types; 8) other typologies (e.g., treatment responsivity, physiological reactivity); and 9) perpetrators of intimate partner femicide. These typologies are summarized and compared, and findings from studies that examined recidivism and treatment outcomes by typology are reported. The new typology was created using data from 7,781 men in Alberta, Canada, who had been identified as having perpetrated IPV using the SPIn. Men in the sample were classified using seven indicator variables linked to general and IPV recidivism in empirical research and available in the SPIn: criminal history, failure while on conditions, violations of protection or no-contact orders, procriminal attitudes, antisocial peers, social/cognitive skills, and aggression/violence. The resulting typology included three classes: High Criminal History—High Antisocial Attitudes (18.5%; n = 1,439), High Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes (51.6%; n = 4,015), and Low Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes (29.9%; n = 2,327). Both classes with high criminal history report a greater prevalence of static variables relating to criminal history; the most notable difference between these two types is that the High Criminal History—High Antisocial Attitudes class scores high on variables relating to antisocial attitudes, whereas the High Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes class does not. Individuals in the Low Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes class have a low probability of all seven indicator variables. The three classes were compared on external variables linked to general and IPV recidivism (including history of violence, substance misuse, childhood trauma, mental health conditions, homicidal ideation, and employment problems). The High Criminal History—High Antisocial Attitudes class displayed the highest prevalence of all external variables (i.e., additional risk factors), the Low Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes class had the lowest rates, and the High Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes class scored intermediate to the other two classes. The three classes were also compared on four dichotomous measures of reoffending (any recidivism, technical violations, new non-violent offence, and new violent offence) at both one and three years. The High Criminal History—High Antisocial Attitudes class displayed the highest rate of recidivism on all four measures. The High Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes class had a slightly lower prevalence than the High Criminal History—High Antisocial Attitudes class on all recidivism measures. The Low Criminal History—Low Antisocial Attitudes class had low rates of all forms of recidivism. Given the distinct differences between the three classes in terms of static and dynamic risk factors (i.e., criminogenic needs) and risk for reoffending, this typology is expected to have clinical utility for case management with men who have perpetrated IPV. Recommendations for risk management (e.g., supervision) and risk reduction (e.g., treatment/intervention programs) are discussed. Keywords: intimate partner violence, domestic violence, typology, perpetrators, systematic review, latent class analysis
Open Access
The Experiences of Men Who Attended Domestic Violence Treatment Programs and Made Changes to End Violence in Their Intimate Relationships
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2014-07) Giesbrecht, Crystal Joy; Sanchez, Miguel; Krieg, Brigette; Halabuza, Donalda; Carter, Claire
The present study sought to gain an understanding of the experiences of men who have been violent in their intimate relationships, attended domestic violence treatment programs, and successfully made changes toward ending their violent behaviour. This project adds to the existing literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) and further informs practice in the area of treatment and support for men who perpetrate IPV. The study used phenomenological research methodology. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with four participants. Following completion of the interviews, all statements made by participants during the interviews were coded into fifteen themes, and these fifteen themes were divided into three categories: men’s experiences before entering Domestic Abuse/Violence Treatment Programs (DAVTPs), experiences attending DAVTPs, and experiences after attending DAVTPs. As well as the fifteen central themes, there were also seventeen subthemes, which further describe the experiences of the participants and the context of those experiences. In terms of their experiences with violence before entering DAVTPs, the participants talked about the violence that had existed in their relationships, relationships with their children, their families of origin, and masculinity. When discussing their experiences in treatment programs, men spoke about engaging initially, accepting responsibility, bonds with other participants and facilitators, and things that they learned. In describing their lives after completing the programs, the participants discussed improved relationships, improved self-esteem, healthy masculinity, and the continued work that they are engaging in. Overall, participants were initially motivated to change because of relationships and of the effect that their violence had on their family, as well as negative self-esteem stemming from their violence, more so than justice system repercussions. For the participants, making change began with accepting responsibility for their violence, as well as responsibility for making changes in their lives. While participating in treatment programs, the men increased their emotional awareness and self-awareness, which was a catalyst for making change. The most important things that the participants learned during their time in the programs that were intrinsic to their process of ending violence in their relationships and remaining violence-free included: increased self-awareness, improved communication skills, and the realization that they need to continue working on themselves. The features of the treatment programs that the participants found the most helpful were the bonds that they formed with co-participants and the safety of the group environment. This research contributes to the body of knowledge regarding what helps abusive men to change their behaviour, for the purpose of helping to increase women’s safety and improve men’s lived realities. Information on what makes it possible for men to develop and maintain non-violent behaviours can assist service providers and community members help men to achieve these goals, and the present study contains several findings and recommendations provided by the participants that speak to this goal.