Air Force Commanders' Disciplinary Decisions on Spouse Abuse Cases

Inconsistencies exist among Air Force commanders when disciplining spouse abuse offenders, possibly owing to inadequate training, unclear role expectations, conflicting policy statements, or personal biases. This situation may lead to inappropriate decisions, further endangering victims and negative...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aggression, maltreatment & trauma maltreatment & trauma, 2007-11, Vol.15 (1), p.75-91
Main Authors: Sayegh, Lisa, Harrison, Dianne F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Armed Forces
Biological and medical sciences
commanders
decision theory
Decisions
Discipline
domestic violence
Family Violence
intimate partner violence
Medical sciences
Military
Policy Making
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
role theory
Spouse Abuse
Victimology
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Summary:Inconsistencies exist among Air Force commanders when disciplining spouse abuse offenders, possibly owing to inadequate training, unclear role expectations, conflicting policy statements, or personal biases. This situation may lead to inappropriate decisions, further endangering victims and negatively impacting mission readiness. A sample of 624 Air Force squadron commanders was surveyed to measure how their perceived role and operations tempo affect their disciplinary decisions on two abuse scenarios. The study tested role and decision-theory concepts. Statistical results supported role theory in the predicted direction, and decision theory, but in the opposite direction hypothesized. Implications for theory, practice, and policy development for the military are discussed.
ISSN:1092-6771
1545-083X
DOI:10.1300/J146v15n01_05