The Batterer as Parent: Addressing the Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics

I have read several books and articles on domestic violence, custody evaluations, and family recovery from domestic violence. This is the first title in that arc of subject area that presented a detailed and accurate picture of what constitutes a batterer and the batterer's effect on partner and children. There were no equivocations, no excuses, no back-pedaling to pander to the popular view that victims are either actually responsible for their and their children's plights, or they are fabricating to achieve some selfish end. I found a brief, but comforting refuge between the pages of this very insightful and thorough study. I highly recommend it to every custody evaluator and family court judge (and every family member who was been battered emotionally, physically, verbally, economically, or in any other way.)

This book succintly provides critical information for judges, therapists, parent evaluators/GALs, and most importantly parents trying to protect their children from harm. It highlights the many misconceptions present in the legal system that enable abusers to continue to victimize their children and spouses, and explains how these situations should be addressed, backed by data to support the authors' conclusions. This is a credible well-written book that provides a rational counter to the awful theories of Richard Gardner.

As a former severely battered wife and for two decades as an advocate for social justice: this book is long overdue. Specifically, the authors address the untenable situation of a batterer's children. Public knowledge of the scourge of wife battering has increased dramatically in 20 years. Finally, the most vulnerable to abuse, the children, are recognized. It is to be hoped that universities and all community groups, hospitals,social workers and police will have this as required reading. In conjunction with this book, the volume entitled From Madness to Mutiny should be studied.Then, all should view films - for example ; Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories.

Anyone with real experience and knowledge in the realm of domestic violence can clearly see that Bancroft is on target. He is one of the few authors who truly understands the dynamics of abuse and can accurately assess those who are truly abusers ... many of whom call themselves the "victims." There are definitive signs of men who abuse, though they work so hard to hide it that they get angry when they discover their attempts don't work with Brancroft. This book is a must have for anyone truly interested in recovering from abuse or working within the justice system to stop such abuse.

This book should be a must read for all Guardian Ad Litems, Custody evaluators, Judges, Lawyers and Therapists. It explains how batterers act, why children often side with the batterer and gives an excellent guide for assessing visitation guidelines. I have only owned the book for two weeks and have already used it with three clients of mine. I am a LMFT and often work with children who have witnessed domestic violence, batterering and whose parents are fighting over custody. In reading this book I have a better understanding for the dymamics in a family with batterering. I now have research to support the things I have been recommending in regards to keeping children safe.