Progress on the paternal brain: theory, animal models, human brain research, and mental health implications.

With a secure foundation in basic research across mammalian species in which fathers participate in the raising of young, novel brain-imaging approaches are outlining a set of consistent brain circuits that regulate paternal thoughts and behaviors in humans. The newest experimental paradigms include increasingly realistic baby-stimuli to provoke paternal cognitions and behaviors with coordinated hormone measures to outline brain networks that regulate motivation, reflexive caring, emotion regulation, and social brain networks with differences and similarities to those found in mothers. In this article, on the father brain, we review all brain-imaging studies on PubMed to date on the human father brain and introduce the topic with a selection of theoretical models and foundational neurohormonal research on animal models in support of the human work. We discuss potentially translatable models for the identification and treatment of paternal mood and father-child relational problems, which could improve infant mental health and developmental trajectories with potentially broad public health importance.

The validation of the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory.

To evaluate the validity of the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory (PMWI), 100 women were interviewed. Both PMWI subscales (dominance/isolation and emotional/verbal) successfully discriminated among three groups: physically abused women (BW) scored significantly higher than both relationship distressed/nonabused (RD) and relationship satisfied/nonabused women (RS). Both subscales of the PMWI were highly correlated with the nonphysical abuse subscale of the Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA). A 14-item short version of the PMWI also successfully discriminated between the BW and RD groups. When the battered women were divided into service seeking (SB) and nonservice seeking battered women (CB), a more complex picture emerged. The SB group scored significantly higher than the RD and RS group on all PMWI long and short subscales. However, the CB group differed from the RD group only on the short dominance/isolation subscale.

Gender and contextual factors in adolescent dating violence.

PIP: This study investigates gender and contextual factors in adolescent dating and violence. It further examines the rate of victimization for adolescents and the critical aspect of the context and consequences of victimization. Data were collected through questionnaires given to 635 high school students between 13 and 18 years old. The analyses focused on comparing male and female reports of victimization in current and past dating relationships. The results revealed significant differences between adolescent girls and boys in the severity of violence experienced and in the seriousness of the consequences experienced from the abuse. The girls perceived the incidents of dating violence as serious assaults, which have damaging physical and psychological effects. On the contrary, boys do not consider these incidents to be as damaging. Furthermore, most of the girls inflict violence to boys as a form of self-defense against physical attacks or coercive sexual behavior. Male and female adolescents did not differ in overall frequency of violence in dating relationships. Consequently, adolescent girls experienced significantly greater levels of severe violence and disclosed more severe physical and emotional reactions toward these incidents.^ieng

The applicability of the theory of planned behavior to abusive men's cessation of violent behavior.

This study examined the ability of Ajzen's (1988; 1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explain men's cessation of violent behavior. TPB suggests that a man's intention to abuse his female partner, and therefore his subsequent abusive behavior will be determined by: (1) his evaluation of possible outcomes of abusive behavior (attitudes toward behavior); (2) his perception of the expectations of others around him concerning violence and (3) the degree to which he believes he can control his abusive behavior. Pretest self-report measures from men and follow-up recidivism data based on partner report were available for 176 cases drawn from a previous study conducted by Harrell (1991). Reliable proxy measures for TPB variables (intentions/expectations to use violence, attitudes toward behavior, social norms, perceived behavioral control) were created. Regression analyses testing the TPB model provided modest support for prediction of intention to reabuse and subsequent abusive behavior. Of the TPB variables, perceived control appeared to be most important in understanding batterers' intentions to abuse and their subsequent abusive behavior. Refinement in measurements and the need for additional modifications to the model are discussed.

Domestic abuse by male alcohol and drug addicts.

Sixty-three male inpatient alcohol and drug addicts and 34 of their female partners participated in a study of variables associated with physical and nonphysical abuse of women. Results suggest that domestic abuse by male addicts is not directly related to experience of violence or addiction in the family of origin, external locus of control, or severity of alcohol abuse. Correlates of domestic abuse were an early onset of drug/alcohol-related problems; low income; a history of nonalcohol drug use, particularly cocaine; and a history of arrest and outpatient counseling.

New evidence for the effectiveness of stress management training in groups.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a stress management treatment based upon transactional stress and group treatment theory. Treatment components included teaching the cognitive-behavioral skills of relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and assertiveness within a structured small-group setting. Thirty-two symptomatic volunteers were assigned to either a treatment group or a wait-list condition. Treatment consisted of eight, two-hour weekly group sessions. On all dependent measures of stress, the treatment subjects evidenced significant pre- to posttest reductions. Furthermore, on three of the four measures, the treatment subjects evidenced significant pre- to posttest reductions in stress compared to the wait-list subjects.

The development of a measure of psychological maltreatment of women by their male partners.

This study describes the initial development of a scale of measurement of psychological maltreatment of women by their male partners. The initial version of the scale was administered to 407 men and 207 women at intake into a domestic violence program. All 58 items of the scale were endorsed by a large enough number of subjects to warrant inclusion in the final instrument. Factor analysis revealed a similar factor structure for the men and women, with dominance-isolation and emotional-verbal abuse factors emerging from the analysis. Intracouple reliability for each item of the scale was examined for the subset of men and women who were cohabiting couples (n = 28). Unsurprisingly, the agreement of men's and women's reports was low, though the scores on the domination-isolation subscale were significantly correlated.