Family Legal, Medical, and Social Perspectives examines the entire spectrum of family violence, focusing on social processes and social relationships. The eighth edition is a multidisciplinary introduction to the study of domestic violence that guides readers to a better understanding of the challenges involved in reducing or eliminating violence. The new edition includes more information on PTSD and head trauma, a new section in children witnessing domestic violence, more international perspectives, which allow students to understand that family violence crosses borders and cultures, and a series of Promising Practices boxes that bring professional knowledge and accomplishments into the classroom.
A full circle book, originally needed to read for Psych, however, this book is an excellent resource for anyone attempting to understand abuse and violence within family, intimate-partner, partner, child, sibling, elder abuse and domestic violence by focusing on psychological, socio-cultural, and socio-economic causes with a focus on law, case studies, same-sex and heterosexual abuse. Excellent book. Opened my eyes to the various levels of violence that lead to abuse. Sadly, most of us experience violence, which begins with yelling and throwing things, as the first level of abuse in a relationship. Disturbing book, but necessary to understand abuse on every level.
Fourth edition. Read this in preparation for an upcoming job/career shift. Many of the chapters were exactly what I needed which was an introduction to the basic topics of child abuse and family violence. Of particular helpfulness was the discussion of the role of professionals in this field.
Some parts of the book were repetitious and relied heavily on citing statistics that were either discounted in the next paragraph, did not make sense, or were generally ineffective in furthering an understanding of the subject. Also, and somewhat conversely, some topics felt a bit overgeneralized which may be a commentary about more of what I was in search of versus a fault on the part of the writer.