title: Group therapy intervention for male batterers: a microethnographic study.
abstract: Treatment of male batterers has been a controversial issue for study and practice in the field of behavioral health care. Empirical evidence on success of treatment of male abusers is mixed. Little is known about what makes a treatment successful for an individual abusive man. Knowledge of how batterers learn and change in therapy and how they apply this learning in their day-to-day lives can be useful in designing successful treatments. The microethnographic study of a group therapy for male batterers discussed in this article describes change processes in abusers and examines the dynamics of unsuccessful processes. In doing so, this study provides a useful evaluation of group therapy as it is offered to batterers. The authors conclude by discussing the implications of microethnographic methods for social work students learning to evaluate their practice.
authors.affiliation: Social Work Program, Indiana University East, Richmond 47374, USA. vpandya@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pandya
authors.forename: Wallace J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gingerich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D003469:Culture; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States