Graduation Date
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Pam Brown
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Judith K. Little
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Donna Schafer
Keywords
Sociology
Subject Categories
Sociology
Abstract
This research seeks to explore the nature of the victim precipitated trigger response mechanism in effect when the abused fights back, resulting in the killing or attempted killing of the abuser. The earliest work in this field done by sociologist Marvin Wolfgang in the early 1950's took place in Philadelphia. Wolfgang sought to explore what he termed "victim precipitation." More recently, Angela Browne continued this research in When Battered Women Kill (1987) where Browne examines the patterns of domestic violence against women and events that lead to homicides of the abuser by the abused. This research will be the first to use Bowker’s notion of trigger mechanisms to further explain what causes battered women to fight back Under the scrutiny and control of Dr. Lee Bowker, Professor of Sociology at HSU, specific cases of battered women fighting back will be examined by both quantitative and qualitative analysis of homicide and attempted homicide cases involving domestic violence survivors. Looking at previous theoretical research in the field by Wolfgang and Browne and other studies geared at examining intimate partner violence, a hypothesis based on the examination and analysis of 21 court cases where Dr. Bowker acted as an expert witness will be used to determine what correlations lie between theory and these specific cases. The research hypothesis to be tested is ” A trigger mechanism can be identified in the history of every lethal counter violence case." In this respect, the victims (the batterers) could be said to have brought about their own death (precipitated). Future study of trigger mechanisms could prove to be valuable in helping battered women involved in homicide and attempted homicide cases in their legal fight.
Recommended Citation
Kateiva, Jodi, "When the Abused Fight Back: Analysis of Victim Precipitated Trigger Response" (2003). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2368.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2368