The globalization of behavioral science evidence about battered women: a theory of production and diffusion.
A theoretical framework is proposed for understanding how the innovative use of behavioral science evidence is both produced and diffused among members of the global legal community. Using case law analyses and interviews with key individuals involved in selected cases, we examine how battered woman syndrome (BWS) is produced and diffused between and among Australia, Canada, England, and the United States. The following diffusion mechanisms are proposed: (1) The availability and accessibility of credible dissemination sources; (2) characteristics of the overall practice environment operating in each legal culture; (3) the attitudes and knowledge of attorneys and judges about the use of scientific evidence; (4) political and social support for the use of the evidence in the legal culture; and (5) the level of structural equivalence, communication, and "neighbor effects" between and among legal cultures. Each mechanism is discussed and supplemented with information from interviews with individuals involved in key cases involving BWS evidence.
Gatowski
S I
SI
Program in Social Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA 89557. gatowski@scs.unr.edu
Dobbin
S A
SA
Richardson
J T
JT
Ginsburg
G P
GP
D001315:Australia; D018585:Battered Women / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001525:Behavioral Sciences / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002170:Canada; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011057:Politics; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome; D014481:United States