Dr Geffner is from San Diego and has been to Long Beach, home of ALV, many times. In my opinion I feel sorry for any who needs real help in those areas----they are both quacks in my opinion. I listened to the first hour of Geffner’s video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkoiNQWaFA&feature=youtu.be
10-12-2006
1. Dr Geffner was once found by the court in Rourke vs Rourke as being a “Hired gun”. (Not in video)
2. Works in San Diego and has done work in Long Beach, stomping ground of ALV.
3. There is a body of research, but much based in “theoretical foundations.”
4. ABUSE: A pattern of behavior where one partner gets his or her needs met at the expense of the other through the use of power and control, usually has elements of intimidation and often produces Trauma.
5. AGGRESSION: Usually physical but can be verbal or sexual where one person commits an assaultive behavior on the other person.
6. Note-You can have abuse without aggression or aggression without abuse.
7. Note-Mutual abuse where both partners are fighting with each other is rare, what they are talking about is mutual aggression (happens quite often).
8. Pushing, shoving, hitting is not necessarily abuse and does not mean one person is equal in power.
9. So many women do push, shove, and react physically but they really in many cases aren’t the abuser.
10. They (women) can be the victim, just fighting back, or have no power.
11. REAL Abuse has a specific meaning----but people in legal Arena have a different definition of abuse. (WOW)
12. His world abuse is an ongoing pattern of someone trying to intimidate, control, and use power over somebody.
13. In legal world if anyone hits someone else, they would automatically be abuser and be arrested.
14. Says if you hit someone and there isn’t an ongoing pattern of control or intimidate her—that would be aggression and not abuse.
15. EMOTIONAL ABUSE:
A. Pattern of acts or omissions such as violent acts that may not cause observable injury that adversely affects the psychological well-being of the victim. Arguments alone are NOT sufficient enough to substantiate emotional maltreatment.
B. Psychological violence involves one of the following behaviors: explicit or implicit threats of violence, extremely controlling types of behavior, extreme jealousy, mental degradation (name-calling), and isolating behavior.
C. Property violence by one spouse may constitute emotional abuse if intended as a means to intimidate the other spouse. Property damage includes but Is not limited to: Damaging or destroying other spouses property, hitting/kicking a door or wall, throwing food, breaking dishes, and INTENTIONALLY or RECKLESSLY DAMAGING AUTOMOBILES. Threatening to or injuring children, threatening or actually kidnapping children.
Let’s look at Geffner ‘s Patterns for abuse by males: Not one of these fits Travis
Male Batterers: (None of this fits Travis)
1. High dependency on Partner
2. Low levels of Impulsivity Control
3. Poor Communication skills
4. Family of Origin Violence.
5. Poor Social Skills
6. Hostile to Women
7. Low Remorse
Female Batterers: (7-major themes, 3-minor themes) 10%
1. History of victimization.
2. Identification with masculine gender traits.
3. Problems related to substance abuse.
4. Emotional abuse by partner *** (Blame)
5. Perception of self as dominant in relationship.
6. History of violent behavior.
7. Perception of personal characteristics as aggressive.
8. A woman’s change in her self-identity (via past).
9. Violence as a motivator to get her partners attention.
10. Emotional attachment.
Other Findings by female perps:
11. If a man is hurt, abused or killed----“He had it coming”
12. Context of abuse: “The actions of a person of one sex cannot be considered the equivalent of the other sex engaging in the behavior.”
13. A slap given by a woman is not the same as when given by a man. (Often excused)
14. Males consistently under report acts of abuse against them.
15. Stereotype is that it’s okay for women to hit, like in movies.
16. Stigma for a male to come forward is even greater, worse, higher than a female victim.
17. Females are more likely to use weapons than males are. (Knives, Guns)
18. Women’s Reasons for DV:
1. ‘My partner wasn’t sensitive to my needs.’
2. ‘I wished to gain my partners attention.’
3. ‘My partner wasn’t listening to me.’
4. I “wanted to stop him from bothering me”.
5. “For sexual excitement.”
6. “He won’t hit back”
RISK FACTORS FOR AGGRESSION/INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: (Jodi fits many of these traits)
1. Attitudes about power, control, and gender.
2. Excessive alcohol/drug use.
3. Low self-esteem
4. Attachment disorders.
5. Lack of empathy
6. Lack assertiveness and use aggression
7. Psychopathy
8. Neuro-psych- impairment-*
9. Poor conflict resolution skills
10. Communication deficits
11. Personality disorders
12. Paranoia
13. Impulsivity
14. Stress.
15. Poor Social skills,
16. Shame
17. Anger
18. Trauma History*
19. Depression
20. Jealousy
21. Dominance Needs
22. Prior abuse history-*
23. Lack readiness to change.