SWK-657 Intimate Partner Violence

This course explores the issue of intimate partner violence, it's cultural, biological, and psychological precedents, and the implication these have on functioning at both a micro and macro level. Students will review both normative and unique stressors that contribute to intimate partner violence, and how social workers can intervene effectively to alleviate those stressors. Specific issues of the biology of stress and threat, the psychology of behavior and violence, adjustments through the family life cycle, and cultural attitudes towards violence will be discussed. This course focuses primarily upon micro-macro social work practice with special emphasis on a strengths-based perspective that students can utilize to empower the families and survivors of intimate partner violence.