This study aims to identify which therapeutic factors supported members in their commitment to a group for abusive men. Seventy-one members of therapy groups for men who batter were asked to rank therapeutic factors based on how they experienced the relative importance of these factors in their experience at the beginning of the group process. Findings indicate that at this stage, abusive men place greater importance on cognitive aspects that correspond to a process of self-understanding and awareness of their problem, whereas the interactive and emotional aspects of the group experience appear less significant. Results are discussed in terms of members’ characteristics and purposes for these groups.
Austin, J., & Dankwort, J. (1999). Standards for batterer programs: A review and analysis. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(2), 152-168.
2.
Behroozi, C. S. (1992). Groupwork with involuntary clients: Remotivating strategies. Groupwork, 5(2), 31-41.
3.
Bloch, E. C., Crouch, S., & Wanlass, J. (1994). Therapeutic factors: Interpersonal and intrapersonal mechanisms. In A. Fuhriman & G. M. Burlingame (Eds.), Handbook of group psychotherapy: An empirical and clinical synthesis (pp. 269-315). New York: John Wiley.
4.
Bloch, S., Reibstein, J., Crouch, R., Holroyd, P., & Themen, J. (1979). A methodfor the study of therapeutic factors in group therapy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 123, 257-263.
5.
Bonney, W. C., Randall, D., & Cleveland, J. (1986). An analysis of client-perceived curative factors in a therapy group of former incest victims. Small Group Behavior, 17(3), 303-321.
6.
Burton, R. L. (1982). Group process demystified. In J. W. Pfeiffer & L. D. Goodstein (Eds.), The 1982 annual for facilitators, trainers, and consultants (pp. 190-197). San Diego, CA: University Consultants.
7.
Butler, T., & Fuhriman, A. (1980). Patient perspective on the curative process: A comparison of day treatment and outpatient psychotherapy groups. Small Group Behavior, 11(4), 271-288.
8.
Caplan, T., & Thomas, H. (1997-1998). “Don’t worry, it’s just a stage he’s going through:” A reappraisal of the stage theory of group work as applied to an open model treatment group for men who abuse women. Groupwork, 10(3), 231-250.
9.
Corsini, P., & Rosenberg, B. (1955). Mechanisms of group psychotherapy: Processes and dynamics. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51, 406-411.
10.
Galinsky, M. J., & Schopler, J. H. (1989). Development patterns in open-ended groups. Social Work with Groups, 12(2), 99-114.
11.
Gouvernement du Québec. (1995). Politique d’intervention en matière de violence conjugale: Prévenir, dépister et contrer la violence conjugale. Québec, Canada: Gouvernement du Québec.
12.
Hanson, B. (2002). Interventions for batterers: Program approaches, program tensions. In A. R. Roberts (Ed.), Handbook of domestic violence intervention strategies: Policies, programs, and legal remedies (pp. 419-448). New York: Oxford University Press.
13.
Kivlighan, D. M., Jr., & Goldfine, D. C. (1991). Endorsement of therapeutic factors as a function of stage of group development and participant interpersonal attitudes. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 38(2), 150-158.
14.
Kurtz, L. F. (1997). Self-help and support groups: A handbook for practitioners. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
15.
Lese, K. P., & Macnair-Semands, R. R. (2000). The therapeutic factors inventory: Development of a scale. Group, 24(4), 303-317.
16.
Lieberman, M. A., Yalom, Y. I., & Miles, M. B. (1973). Encounter groups: First facts. New York: Basic Books.
17.
Lindsay, J., Ouellet, F., & Saint-Jacques, M. C. (1991). Les groupes de traitement pour conjoints violents. Québec, Canada: Université Laval, Centre de recherche sur les services communautaires.
18.
Lindsay, J., Ouellet, F., & Saint-Jacques, M. C. (1994). Pour une intervention plus efficace auprès des conjoints violents. Le travailleur social, 62(3), 104-108.
19.
Lindsay, J., Turcotte, D., Montminy, L., & Roy, V. (2003). Therapeutic factors in groups for abusive spouses: A review of research. Canadian Social Work, 5(1), 126-137.
20.
Mackenzie, K. R. (1987). Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy: A contemporary view. Group, 11(1), 26-31.
21.
Macnair-Semands, R. R., & Lese, K. P. (2000). Interpersonal problems and the perception of therapeutic factors in group therapy. Small Group Research, 31(2), 158-174.
22.
Magen, R., & Glajchen, M. (1999). Cancer support groups: Client outcome and the context of group process. Research on Social Work Practice, 9(5), 541-554.
23.
Milgram, D., & Rubin, J. S. (1992). Resisting resistance: Involuntary substance abuse group therapy. Social Work With Groups, 15(1), 95-110.
24.
Ministère de la Santé et des services sociaux. (1992). Intervention auprès des conjoints violents. Orientations. Québec, Canada: Gouvernement du Québec.
25.
Pence, E., & Paymar, M. (1993). Education groups for men who batter: The Duluth model. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
26.
Pirog-Good, M., & Stets, J. (1986). Programs for abusers: Who drops out and what can be done. Response to the Victimization of Women and Children, 8(3), 8-12.
27.
Randall, D. (1993). An analysis of curative factor rankings and attendant critical conditions for adult female incest groups. Dissertation Abstracts International, 53, B5435.
28.
Randall, D. (1995). Curative factor ranking for female incest survivor groups: A summary of three studies. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 20(4), 232-239.
29.
Reddon, J. R., Payne, L. R., & Starzyk, K. B. (1999). Therapeutic factors in group treatment evaluated by sex offenders: A consumers’ report. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 28(3/4), 91-101.
30.
Rondeau, G., Brodeur, N., Brochu, S., & Lemire, G. (2001). Drop out and completion of treatment among spouse abusers. Violence and Victims, 16(2), 127-143.
31.
Schwartz, J. P., & Waldo, M. (1999). Therapeutic factors in spouse-abuse group treatment. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 24(2), 197-207.
32.
Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (1998). An introduction to group work (3rd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
33.
Turcotte, D., Damant, D., & Lindsay, J. (1995). Pour une compréhension de la démarche de recherche d’aide des conjoints violents. Service social, 44(2), 91-110.
34.
Vallerand, R. J. (1989). Vers uneméthodologie devalidation transculturellede questionnaires psychologiques: Implications pour la recherche en langue française. Psychologie Canadienne, 30, 662-680.
35.
Wheeler, I., O’malley, K., Waldo, M., Murphey, J., & Blank, C. (1992). Participants’ perception of therapeutic factors in group for incest survivors. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 17(2), 89-95.
36.
Yalom, I. D. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (4th ed.). New York: Basic Books.
37.
Yllö, K. A. (1993). Through a feminist lens: Gender, power, and violence. In R. J. Gelles & D. R. Gelles (Eds.), Current controversies on family violence (pp. 47-62). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
