Intervention with intimate partner violence offenders: Contexto Program

Abstract

This paper describes the experience in intervention with 643 men punished for violence against women, from an ecological model (Contexto Program). The demographic profile and dropout is analyzed; the change in variables related to attribution of responsibility, attitude toward violence and women, and psychosocial adjustment of participants who have completed the intervention is observed; the change in recidivism risk of participants who have completed the follow-up phase is studied; and a description of the real rate of recidivism is made according to official databases. The main results indicate low dropout and significant reduction in several variables: attribution of responsibility to the legal system and the victim, hostile and benevolent sexism, and depressive symptoms; as well as increased the perceived severity of violence and community involvement. Finally, there is a decreased of recidivism risk and a low of real recidivism rate. The results show positive changes provided by the treatment.