Change among batterers - Examining men's success stories

This study identified variables related to change in abusive behavior thoug h qualitative analyses of interviews with nine reformed batterers. Intervie wed men had attended a median of 35 interventions sessions at a feminist-or iented group treatment program and were identified by their counselors and partners as having made significant changes in their behavior. Hour-long se mistructured interviews focused on understanding men's change were analyzed with a set of 28 a priori-specified codes based on theoretical understandi ngs of change in abusive behavior: Four variables were found to contribute to change for more than 75% of the men: increased responsibility for their past abusive behavior; development of empathy for their partners' victimiza tion, reduced dependency on their partners, and increased communication ski lls. The implications of these findings for future theoretical and empirica l work are discussed.