Social Work Students’ Attitudes, Social Work Students’ Attitudes, Perceptions and Knowledge Base Perceptions and Knowledge Base

regarding Perpetrators of regarding Perpetrators of Domestic Violence Domestic Violence

Letnie Rock, Ph.D.Letnie Rock, Ph.D.

UWI Cave Hill CampusUWI Cave Hill Campus

Conference on Social Work and Social Development Conference on Social Work and Social Development

Stockholm, Sweden, July 2012Stockholm, Sweden, July 2012

Domestic Violence Hurts Domestic Violence Hurts Everyone Everyone

Domestic Violence Hurts Domestic Violence Hurts EveryoneEveryone

BackgroundBackground Barbados is a small Island in the CaribbeanBarbados is a small Island in the Caribbean

Population of approximately 280,000 Population of approximately 280,000

Male female ratio in population 1: 3 Male female ratio in population 1: 3

Increasing concern over the last two decades about Increasing concern over the last two decades about domestic violence (DV) in Barbados (perpetrated mainly domestic violence (DV) in Barbados (perpetrated mainly by males) and the apparent normalcy of the practice in by males) and the apparent normalcy of the practice in society (Le Franc & Rock, 2003)society (Le Franc & Rock, 2003)

BackgroundInitiatives aimed at preventing incidents of DV havebeen put in place. These include:

Public lectures and media campaigns Community marches against DV Legislation – The DV Protection (Orders) Act 1992 Family service agency Counselling centre and hotline Shelter for battered women Men’s Support Groups

Profile of Domestic Violence in Barbados

National study 2008/2009 (CADRES) found that:

21% of homicides results from DV Females are more likely to report incidences than

males Females mainly victims based on reports Perpetrators mainly males based on reports Abusive incidents mostly physical, verbal and

psychological. Low incidence of financial abuse based on reports.

Statistics on Domestic Violence in Barbados

Abuse occurs in all intimate relationships - marital, common-law and visiting relationships

66% of victims/survivors from the lower socio-econ. group

2000-2007 - 218 homicides in Barbados and 46 due to domestic violence – these 46 were women

Face of Domestic Violence in Face of Domestic Violence in BarbadosBarbados

QUOTESQUOTES ““Sometimes you have to make them feel Sometimes you have to make them feel

pain for them to stop the foolishness. pain for them to stop the foolishness. Women often agree with this approach too Women often agree with this approach too ..and my wife said that if I hadn’t done that ..and my wife said that if I hadn’t done that she might not have understood”.she might not have understood”.

Face of Domestic Violence in Face of Domestic Violence in BarbadosBarbados

““The women might want to play the The women might want to play the leading role in a relationship. She does leading role in a relationship. She does not ask for or respect the man’s opinion”.not ask for or respect the man’s opinion”.

““The image of men is still that they must The image of men is still that they must rule and dominate. They will react to the rule and dominate. They will react to the slightest thing that challenges them”. slightest thing that challenges them”.

Status of Research on the ProblemStatus of Research on the Problem

Research on DV in the Caribbean is emergingResearch on DV in the Caribbean is emerging

Paucity of research in Barbados – to date mainly Paucity of research in Barbados – to date mainly statistical data reportedstatistical data reported

Few Caribbean studies conducted: Danns & Parsad Few Caribbean studies conducted: Danns & Parsad (1989), Clarke (1998), Hezekiah (2000), Le Franc & (1989), Clarke (1998), Hezekiah (2000), Le Franc & Rock (2001), Holder-Dolly & Sogren (2004), Rock (2001), Holder-Dolly & Sogren (2004), CADRES (2008-2009) & UNICEF (2007)CADRES (2008-2009) & UNICEF (2007)

Theoretical Rationale

Socio-cultural perspective – this theory considers the social conditions existing in the family and community in which people live as well as the cultural nuances and their overall impact on the individual.

Studies on domestic violence and child abuse in the Caribbean have found cultural behaviors mores and norms to be factors that influence abusive behaviour

Definition of Domestic ViolenceDefinition of Domestic Violence

A pattern of assaultive and coercive A pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors including, physical, sexual and behaviors including, physical, sexual and psychological attacks, as well as psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion, that adults use economic coercion, that adults use against their intimate partner … to gain against their intimate partner … to gain and maintain power and control (Dunbar, and maintain power and control (Dunbar, 1998).1998).

Research Objective

The research objective - to investigate whether social work students have punitive attitudes (primarily a legal perspective) OR non-punitive attitudes (favour a treatment approach) to perpetrators of DV before they (students) acquire professional training and experience

Research HypothesesResearch Hypotheses

1.1. Students who have experienced DV will more Students who have experienced DV will more likely have a punitive attitude to perpetrators likely have a punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV than those without such experiences. of DV than those without such experiences.

2.2. Younger students would have a punitive Younger students would have a punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV while older attitude to perpetrators of DV while older students would have a non-punitive attitude.students would have a non-punitive attitude.

Research HypothesesResearch Hypotheses

3. Entry level students are more likely to have a punitive 3. Entry level students are more likely to have a punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV than final year students.attitude to perpetrators of DV than final year students.

4. Male students would more likely have a non-punitive 4. Male students would more likely have a non-punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV while female students attitude to perpetrators of DV while female students would more likely have punitive attitude.would more likely have punitive attitude.

MethodologyMethodologyCharacteristics of SampleCharacteristics of Sample

Exploratory study Exploratory study Convenience sample Convenience sample 6464 undergraduate social work students (Levels 1-3) undergraduate social work students (Levels 1-3) Sex: Sex: Males (Males (1212), Females (), Females (49)49), Not stated (, Not stated (33)) Age groupsAge groups: 21-39 years; 40 and over: 21-39 years; 40 and over Marital statusMarital status: Married 17, Single 39, Divorced 5: Married 17, Single 39, Divorced 5 Degree level: Degree level: Level 1 (14), Level 2 (29) Level 3 – (21). Level 1 (14), Level 2 (29) Level 3 – (21).

MethodologyMethodologyResearch InstrumentResearch Instrument

Questionnaire [self-administered] contained 6 vignettes/ Questionnaire [self-administered] contained 6 vignettes/ scenarios. Students were asked to complete each scenarios. Students were asked to complete each vignette by indicating their responses to the statements vignette by indicating their responses to the statements on a scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly on a scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Facts were assumed to be true and disagree. Facts were assumed to be true and first/immediate responses given.first/immediate responses given.

Current Study - MethodologyCurrent Study - Methodology

What did the 6 scenarios depict?What did the 6 scenarios depict?

1.1. Physical abuse in a common law relationship – Physical abuse in a common law relationship – female victimfemale victim

2.2. Physical abuse, stalking and locking in the house in Physical abuse, stalking and locking in the house in marital relationships – female victimsmarital relationships – female victims

3.3. Physical and verbal abuse in a marital relationship – Physical and verbal abuse in a marital relationship – male victimmale victim

4.4. Physical and sexual abuse/rape in a non-marital Physical and sexual abuse/rape in a non-marital relationship. Perpetrator and victim living in two relationship. Perpetrator and victim living in two separate households – female victimseparate households – female victim

Method of Data Analysis Method of Data Analysis

Data were analyzed using SPSSData were analyzed using SPSS

Descriptive StatisticsDescriptive Statistics

Independent samples T-testsIndependent samples T-tests

Findings

Hypothesis 1: Students who have experienced DV will more likely have a punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV than students without such experience.

It was found in responses to only one vignette (#6) that those students who experienced DV expressed stronger and more punitive attitudes towards the perpetrator when compared to students who did not have DV experiences (p <.05)

Limited support for this hypothesis

FindingsFindings Hypothesis 2 younger students would have a Hypothesis 2 younger students would have a

punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV while older punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV while older students would have a non-punitive attitude.students would have a non-punitive attitude.

Younger students generally expressed stronger views Younger students generally expressed stronger views that the victims should leave the perpetrator, obtain that the victims should leave the perpetrator, obtain Protection Orders and deny the perpetrators access to Protection Orders and deny the perpetrators access to their children. They also had stronger beliefs that their children. They also had stronger beliefs that perpetrators should be arrested, placed on probation perpetrators should be arrested, placed on probation by the court and have court ordered mental health by the court and have court ordered mental health counseling in three of the case vignettes (# 2, 5 & 6); counseling in three of the case vignettes (# 2, 5 & 6); ps < .05). ps < .05).

Modest level of support for this hypothesis.Modest level of support for this hypothesis.

FindingsFindings Hypothesis 3: Entry level students are more likely to Hypothesis 3: Entry level students are more likely to

have a punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV than have a punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV than

final year students.final year students.

There were no significant differences in attitudes There were no significant differences in attitudes toward perpetrators of DV between entry level students toward perpetrators of DV between entry level students and final year students on five of the six scenarios and final year students on five of the six scenarios depicting DVdepicting DV

The results show very limited support for hypothesis 3 The results show very limited support for hypothesis 3

FindingsHypothesis 4: Male students would more likely have a non-punitive attitude to perpetrators of DV while female students would more likely have a punitive attitude.

In four of the six scenarios, female students generally held more punitive attitudes toward the perpetrators of DV than their male counterparts. In the respective scenarios, female students expressed stronger views that the victims should leave, obtain Protection Order and deny the perpetrators any access to their children (all ps < .05; Vignettes # 3, 4, 5 & 6).

Modest support for hypothesis 4.

FindingsFindings

Students generally had punitive attitudes Students generally had punitive attitudes to perpetrators of DV but also agreed in to perpetrators of DV but also agreed in their responses that more needs to be their responses that more needs to be done to help both victims and perpetrators done to help both victims and perpetrators of DV. of DV.

Conclusion

Findings cannot be generalized beyond the population studied. However, in a society where DV is so widespread, social workers need to receive training otherwise their perceptions of and attitudes to perpetrators and victims/survivors will influence their potential work decisions.

The results of the study support the need for a course in DV to be included in the social work undergraduate curriculum to equip students with the relevant knowledge base.

Current Study - ConclusionsCurrent Study - Conclusions

More research needs to be undertaken to provide More research needs to be undertaken to provide greater insights on the problem and also to inform greater insights on the problem and also to inform practice and policy decisions on DV not only in practice and policy decisions on DV not only in Barbados but the wider Caribbean region.Barbados but the wider Caribbean region.

THANK YOU THANK YOU Thank You