A Guttman Scale for Empirical Prediction of Level of Domestic Violence

ABSTRACT

Theory posits that in relationships of domestic abuse, there is a cycle of violence wherein the frequency and severity of violence increases over time. The theory based on Walker's extensive anecdotal research, and widely seen in clinical practice, lacked empirical support. This research assessed the reported history of 209 female survivors of domestic violence, in relation to thirty items of physical violence commonly reported by victims. Factor analysis reduced the item pool to eleven items, which were then used to successfully create a seven-step Guttman Scale for severity of violence. Two alternative scales also emerged by interchanging item five on the scale. The research provides empirical support to Walker's theory that in domestically abusive relationships, the severity of violence increases over time. The utility of this scale for mental health and law enforcement professionals is that by knowing any particular event of physical abuse that has occurred at some time in a relationship, it can be predicted with 91% certainty that all the lower levels of violence have also occurred.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic violence
• cycle of violence
• prediction
• battered women