The Battered Woman Syndrome, Third Edition (Focus on Women)

This is an excellent book, written by the foremost authority in the field. [It] is easy to read and does a nice job integrating theory and research." Score: 95, 4 stars

--Doody's

Walker's seminal, groundbreaking book The Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) has forged new directions in the field of domestic violence for over 30 years. Now, the highly anticipated, third edition offers thoroughly updated and revised research on key topics, including posttraumatic stress disorder, learned helplessness or learned optimism, the cycle theory of violence, and much more.

This third edition presents updated data generated from the newly modified Battered Woman Syndrome Questionnaire (BWSQ). With a new focus on culture and ethnicity, these data detail the experiences of foreign women who either live in their country of origin or the U.S. Like its popular predecessors, this new edition serves as a valuable resource for both professional counselors and students studying domestic violence.

Discussions on the revised criteria for the BWS and PTSD:

• Posttraumatic stress and re-experiencing the trauma
• High levels of anxiety and arousal
• Emotional numbing, avoidance behaviors, and depression
• Disrupted interpersonal relationships
• Distorted body image and physical illnesses
• Sexual issues, including feelings of guilt, shame, and jealousy

Key topics discussed:

• Attachment issues for battered women and the men who batter them
• Substance abuse and addiction
• Risk factors for further abuse
• Women in prison and battered women who kill their abusive partners in self-defense
• The Survivor Therapy Empowerment Program (STEP) which helps women better understand how the violence has impacted their lives