Events
Dissertation Presentation: Intimate Partner Violence Treatment Groups
PhD candidate Jacob Robert Otis, will present their dissertation, “Empathy and Moral Re-Engagement in Intimate Partner Violence Treatment Groups.”
Advisor: Lynette M. Renner, PhD
Committee: Joan Blakey, PhD; Ceema Samimi, PhD; and Christopher Uggen, PhD (Sociology)
When: December 10, 2025, 11:30 a.m. CST
Where: Peters Hall Room 280, or join the Zoom call
Dissertation abstract: This dissertation examines the impact and effectiveness of the novel intimate partner violence (IPV) intervention program which uses restorative justice (RJ) practices, Stop Abuse for Individuals and Families (SAIF), for men charged with an IPV-related offense. The last several decades of extant research on non-RJ batterer intervention programs (BIPs) shows limited effectiveness for recidivism and other outcomes. By integrating the principles of RJ and viewing this intervention through Reintegrative Shaming Theory (RST), this study assessed SAIF as a potential intervention for addressing IPV-related recidivism.
The study utilizes a mixed methods design to evaluate the effectiveness of SAIF, overall and across low, medium, and high intensity levels of the program (SAIF-L, SAIF-M, and SAIF-H). Quantitative data, collected from a total of 126 participants, leveraged administrative data, pre- and post- intervention surveys, and a six-month background check.
Outcomes included changes in empathy, moral disengagement, and IPV-related recidivism.
- Six-month IPV recidivism was 6.38% in SAIF-L, 11.11% in SAIF-M, and 2.94% in SAIF-H (7.14% overall).
- Empathy changes were a 0% change in SAIF-L, +3.28% in SAIF-M, and -2.48% in SAIF-H (+0.54% overall),
- while moral disengagement rose +10.67% in SAIF-L but declined -5.99% in SAIF-M and -7.89% in SAIF-H (−0.53% overall).
Qualitative data included in-depth narratives and interviews with nine participants which explore their experiences in the program and their perceived impacts on empathy, accountability, and personal change.
Key themes included the role of fatherhood and masculinity, identity and values, forgiveness, deep listening, and accountability.
By addressing this gap in IPV and RJ literature of empirical evaluations of RJ-based BIPs, this study offers insights towards how SAIF may provide new considerations for BIPs in the United States. The results of this research have the potential to generate new academic and practice-based conversations that integrate RJ principles, emphasize empathy development and address moral disengagement, and broaden the range of treatment options available to promote behavioral change and deeper accountability to address IPV.
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