Abuse Intervention

Management Program

GeminusAbuse Intervention

Management8400 Louisiana Street

Merrillville, Indiana 46410Phone: 219-757-1831

Fax: 219-738-5283

Profile of the BattererDomestic violence doesn’t discriminate. Batterers could be doctors, lawyers, teachers, therapists, convenience store clerks, mechanics, coaches, etc. Their actions are rooted in the psychodynamics of domestic violence batterers observed and learned in childhood. While most batterers appear to be aggressive on the outside, it is frequently a mask for the passive, powerless, manipulated, abused victim on the inside. They lack the assertiveness needed to communicate in everyday relationships with significant others, and resort to domination to maintain a sense of control over the immediate environment and the people in it. Batterers express at home what they are unable to express in public.

Services:• Domestic Violence Assessments• 26 Week Group Intervention classes• Safety Planning• Referrals for Other Community

Relationships• Community Presentations on Domestic

Violence Prevention• Collaboration with Courts, Probation,

Therapists and Law Enforcement Agencies

• Collaboration with agencies which provide Domestic Violence Services

Geminus will not discriminate against any individual because of race, religion, color or sexual orientation.

Why Do Men Batter?Most men who batter have been exposed to domestic violence as children. They are often victims of child abuse. They have watched their fathers abuse their mothers and have observed their mothers accepting and enduring it. They have learned to express powerful emotions in destructive ways. They are driven by a need for dominance. As

adults, they repeat the patterns learned in childhood.

Why Do Women Batter?Relatively little has been paid to why women initiate assaults. In 1990 it was reported and concluded by Stets and Straus that when violence is measured by acts, women are as violent as men from the 1985 survey. McLeod (1984) reported that, “women were three times as more likely than men to use weapons.” Women stated that they expressed aggression toward their male partners because they wished to engage their partner’s attention, particularly emotionally. Also, assaultive women did not believe that their male victims would be seriously

injured or would retaliate.

Abuse is a learned behavior.Today, more and more services are geared to both victim and batterer. Education is the key to helping the batterer. Males are reluctant to admit that they need help. They still hold to – and practice – the belief of a male-dominant society. They behave as the stereotypical macho male.

The AIM program is a state certified 26 week group based program. All clients referred receive group intervention. All group services are provided on site by certified domestic violence facilitators. We accept referrals from Lake County Indiana Department of Child Services, Lake County Court System, Lake County Superior Court, Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and Lake County Public Defender.

For more information, please call: 219-757-1831

Our main goal is to keep children and families safe.

CHARACTERISTICS THAT MIGHT IDENTIFY A POTENTIAL BATTERER

Below are some characteristics that might identify a potential batterer or abuser:

• Extreme dependence on relationships.• Rationalization of his/her own violence,

denial of the severity of the abuse or denial that the abuse occurred at all.

• Rigid sex roles, believes men are superior and should be in charge of women.

• Impulsive in decision-making.• General possessiveness and jealousy,

which can reach pathological levels. • Focuses on fear of losing partner, often

imagines partner is having an affair.• Not open to hearing options or rational

explanations.• Tries to isolate partner from friends, family,

and co-workers.• Difficulty in identifying and expressing

feelings and oppression of emotions.• Sees violence as a problem solver and

tension release.• May be mystified that the law should

object. (“After all, it is my spouse”.)• May not feel guilty or ashamed, minimizes

or denies the abuse.• May have affairs.• Witnessed/experienced family violence

while growing up.• Unrealistic expectations of self, partner,

family, etc.• “Jekyll and Hyde” personality.• Impulsive with explosive personality, flies

into rages unexpectedly.• Rigid style of demanding and controlling

behaviors.• Sees only short-term horizons, ignores/

doesn’t see long-term consequences of abusive behavior.

What is A.I.M.?

• Teaches effective communication skills and assertive behavior

• Consists of a minimum of 26 weeks of cognitive behavioral education

• Challenges irrational belief systems and explores alternative belief systems that translate into non-violent behavior

• Defines and discusses the following topics:• Nonviolence• Nonthreatening behavior• Respect• Support and trust• Honest and accountability• Sexual respect• Partnership• Negotiation and fairness

• Provides a safe environment to begin the process for change

Appropriate Intervention for a Batterer

• Education is the key to helping the batterer. Some batterers are resistant or not open to the change process. Many batterers continue to hold onto and practice their irrational belief systems.

• Examples of irrational/dysfunctional beliefs• Anger causes my violence• Women are manipulative• Women think of men as paychecks• Women want to be dominated• Smashing things isn’t abusive – it’s

venting