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Evaluation ViewAttendees 6

Panel Discussions

Violence / Aggression

Inspiring Innovation In Relationship Violence Research, Advocacy, and Interventions Across Time and Cultural Shifts: Four Women Clinical Scientists Navigate Complex Geo-Political Spaces

Panel Discussion 34 - Inspiring Innovation in Relationship Violence Research, Advocacy, and Interventions Across Time and Cultural Shifts: Four Women Clinical Scientists Navigate Complex Geo-political Spaces

Saturday, November 16, 2024
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM EST
Location: Grand Ballroom A. Level 5, Downtown Marriott
Earn 1.5 Credit
Keywords: Intimate Partner Aggression, Career Development, Couples / Close Relationships
Recommended Readings: Leisring, P. A. (2013). Physical and Emotional Abuse in Romantic Relationships: Motivation for Perpetration Among College Women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28(7), 1437-1454. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260512468236,  

Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Siegal, R., & Hamilton-Childres, E. (2023). Ten guidelines for Trauma-Informed Research in clinical and community psychology: Application to a Community-Agency-University Domestic Violence Research Collaborative. Scholarly Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. https://dx.doi.org/10.32474/SJPBS.2023.07.000265

,   Greer, K.M., Cary, K.M., Maas, M.K. & Cornelius, T et al. Differences Between Gender and Relationship Status in Motivations and Consequences of Consensual Sexting Among Emerging Adults. Sexuality & Culture 26, 1432–1451 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09952-y,   ,  
This Panel first recognizes the foundational research in the intimate partner aggression or relationship violence (RV) field, much of which was informed by traditional feminist theory. This early work paved the way for ground-breaking advocacy, prevention, and intervention efforts targeted at reducing RV and supporting survivors. Consistent with the ABCT 2024 theme, this panel then builds upon these initial innovations in order to highlight how we, as CBT scientist-practioners, can “do better today and in the days ahead.” Specifically, we directly address traditional feminist-based assumptions about RV that have not been well-supported empirically, requiring expansion of the patriarchal, cisgender, heteronormative RV lens. We describe emerging controversial research and corresponding therapeutic advances, conducted by panel members, while considering how we understand, care for, and develop ourselves as empowered female-identifying RV scientists. Each of us has advocated for and conducted research to better capture the complexities of RV, including:  establishing the prevalence of bidirectional and female-perpetrated violence; promoting contextually-driven analyses; identifying complex motivations underlying perpetration; differentiating retaliatory and self-defensive aggression; and explicating intersections between emerging evidence and state-specific RV intervention policies. We also highlight how fourth-wave feminist ideology has incorporated intersectionality, LGBTQ+ identities, and non-monogamous, non-marital, and non-heterosexual relationships in order to better serve diverse RV perpetrators and survivors. We advocate for longitudinal and experimental methodologies; inclusive and evidence-informed policy, prevention, and treatment reforms; and innovative strategies to disseminate RV research to diverse constituents. As four seasoned female RV researchers, we also discuss our personal-professional strategies for traversing complex political spaces while fostering sustainable careers.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Describe the historical feminist inspired roots of the domestic violence research field.
  2. Name empirical findings that require theoretical shifts in order to better conceptualize the diversity among RV perpetrators and survivors.
  3. Consider ways to navigate this challenging political space sustainably, ethically, and with lower risk of secondary trauma/burnout.
  4. Identify cutting edge RV work that is moving beyond conceptualizations grounded in cisgendered, heteronormative, relationship models.
  5. Consider avenues for innovation for future generations of RV researchers, advocates, and practitioners (novel dissemination strategies, ACT).