Factors Influencing a Battered Woman's Decision to Return to the Abusive Situation: An Empirical Investigation Considering Learned Helplessness and Survivor Theory

Abstract

This thesis will focus on presenting information to support different models that attempt to explain the behavior of abused women. The thesis wilJ describe the steps a woman takes throughout her relationship to protect herself from abuse, and the situational factors affecting her decision-making. Responses of abused women range from a brief anonymous hotline call to ask a few questions about options, to divorce, and/or formal criminal charges. The latter generally requires several steps and complex decisions. Factors influencing decisions include the duration of the relationship, whether they are married, if children are involved, the actual or potential abuse of children, her age, her access to family and friends, her income, and the type and frequency of abuse she has experienced. Research determining which situational factors affect decision-making has been very limited (Aguirre, 1985; Dutton-Douglas & Dionne, 1991; Stacey & Shupe, 1983). This thesis will address the above mentioned situational factors to determine which, if any, affect a woman's decision to remain, leave, or return to her abuser. Since the phenomenon of abuse was recognized 25 years ago, many services have become available for battered woman (i.e. shelter, hotlines, counseling, job and housing placement, and legislation). Since some women who know about these services remain in abusive relationships, it is apparent that provision of the resources to empower women are not sufficient to break the cycle of abuse. This research examines clients of a local agency for abused persons, examining records for five years to discover why certain women left abusers while others stayed with them. Project Horizon is an agency serving abused persons in a rural area of southwestern Virginia. While some of its clients are abused men and children, the overwhelming majority are women abused by male partners. Consequently, the data only include single, married, separated, or divorced female clients who were either living apart from or cohabitating with male abusers. [From Introduction]