Deck 11: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Question 1

According to the text, the original study of battered women by Dr. Lenore Walker was criticized for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT:

A) Not all women in her sample experienced all the hypothesized stages of the cycle of abuse.
B) A comparison group of non-battered women was absent from her study.
C) The experimenters who collected the data knew about the study hypotheses and could have biased the results.
D) The sample in her study was too small.

Answer 1

The sample in her study was too small.

Question 2

So-called rape myths are common misconceptions about sexual assaults that are likely to be addressed by expert testimony about RTS. According to the text, which one of the following is NOT a rape myth?

A) Most rapes are committed when both parties have been drinking.
B) Most rapes are committed by strangers.
C) If a woman says she doesn't want to have sex, she doesn't really mean it.
D) It is impossible to rape a woman who is unwilling.

Answer 2

Most rapes are committed when both parties have been drinking.

Question 3

Some experts contend that PTSD as an established medical diagnosis should be used instead of BWS to defend a battered woman who killed her abusive spouse. However, critics of this idea point to several disadvantages of the PTSD defense. These disadvantages include all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) The PTSD label characterizes the woman as mentally disordered.
B) The PTSD diagnosis can be used to claim incompetence to stand trial.
C) The use of PTSD can lead to the prosecution's inquiries into other traumatic events in the defendant's past.
D) Some victims of persistent abuse do not meet criteria for PTSD.

Answer 3

The PTSD diagnosis can be used to claim incompetence to stand trial.

Question 4

The _____ component of battered woman syndrome is one of its most _____ aspects.

A) cycle of abuse; widely accepted
B) cycle of abuse; controversial
C) learned helplessness; controversial
D) learned helplessness; widely accepted

Question 5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) contains _____ in its classification of mental disorders.

A) rape trauma syndrome (RTS)
B) battered woman syndrome (BWS)
C) battered spouse syndrome (BSS)
D) It contains none of these.

Question 6

Studies show that the police are often _____ to arrest batterers and that restraining orders against intimate partners are _____.

A) reluctant; often violated
B) reluctant; very effective
C) eager; unenforceable
D) eager; very effective

Question 7

A common term used to describe a group of associated symptoms that lead to a significant dysfunction in the performance of normal activities is a:

A) cluster.
B) syndrome.
C) correlation.
D) constellation.

Question 8

The Ibn-Tamas v. United States (1979) was one of the first cases where a(n):

A) expert testimony on battered woman syndrome was offered.
B) judge allowed expert testimony in court for the first time.
C) woman convicted of murdering her husband was given a light sentence.
D) jury acquitted the defendant based on the battered woman syndrome defense.

Question 9

According to the text, females are _____ likely to report spousal violence to police. The spousal homicide rate of female victims is _____ that of male victims.

A) more; several times higher than
B) more; much lower than
C) less; very similar to
D) less; much higher than

Question 10

Even though individual reactions to rape may vary widely, several symptoms are commonly experienced by rape victims. Which one of the following is NOT such a symptom?

A) Depression.
B) Anxiety.
C) Self-blame.
D) Impulsivity.

Question 11

Victims of rape trauma syndrome (RTS) and battered woman syndrome (BWS) may also meet the criteria for _____, which is an established medical diagnosis.

A) borderline personality disorder
B) chronic lateness syndrome
C) posttraumatic stress disorder
D) generalized anxiety disorder

Question 12

What was the reason that both judges in the Ibn-Tamas case prohibited expert testimony on battered woman syndrome (BWS) from being presented to the jury?

A) Expert testimony is generally unnecessary during jury trials.
B) The expert did not have the required credentials and expertise.
C) BWS is not generally accepted as legitimate in the field of psychology.
D) All of the above were offered as the reasons by both judges.

Question 13

Lenore Walker has identified several characteristics that she thought most battered women shared. Which one is NOT among these characteristics?

A) Belief that women should be submissive to their husbands.
B) Tendency to accept responsibility for the abuse.
C) Social isolation and dependence on her abuser.
D) Sexual promiscuity outside of marriage.

Question 14

Studies that analyzed verdicts reached in cases of battered women who killed their husbands or partners, found that _____ of the women were convicted, and expert testimony on BWS _____.

A) very few; made a substantial impact on jurors
B) the vast majority; did not have much influence
C) about half; was crucial
D) none; made all the difference

Question 15

When studying rape victims, Burgess and Holmstrom (1979) found that _____ of the victims had returned to normal functioning within 5 years after the rape.

A) only 5%
B) about half
C) about three quarters
D) over 95%

Question 16

Researchers have identified several types of male batterers. The most common one is characterized by limited marital violence, absence of psychiatric or personality disorders, and relatively low rates of substance abuse. Which type is it?

A) Batterer with borderline personality disorder.
B) Generally violent antisocial batterer.
C) Batterer with poor self-image.
D) Relationship/family-only batterer.

Question 17

All of the following are descriptions of what a syndrome is, EXCEPT:

A) a pattern of behaviors common to people with certain characteristics.
B) a cluster of related symptoms that lead to a significant dysfunction.
C) a set of psychological and emotional reactions to a specific event.
D) a group of symptoms that only women, but not men, experience.

Question 18

After years of abuse and humiliation suffered at the hands of her husband, Katherine killed him when he was threatening her while brandishing a gun. Katherine's lawyers are most likely to argue:

A) self-defense.
B) insanity.
C) battered woman syndrome.
D) incompetency to stand trial.

Question 19

Ibn-Tamas v. United States (1979) was one of the first cases in which:

A) expert testimony was offered on rape trauma syndrome (RTS).
B) expert testimony was offered on battered woman syndrome (BWS).
C) expert testimony was offered on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
D) a woman was acquitted for the killing of her abusive husband.

Question 20

The term syndrome is used to describe a particular type of _____ or peculiar _____.

A) disturbance; ideological inclinations
B) disturbance; emotional reactions to a specific event
C) personality; ideological inclinations
D) personality; emotional reactions to a specific event

Question 21

The text indicates that one possible application of a useful batterer typology is to:

A) engage victim advocacy groups.
B) develop targeted interventions.
C) write a self-help manual for victims.
D) determine an appropriate length of sentencing.

Question 22

Although a battered woman's reluctance to leave the abusive relationship _____, research has found that a lot of battered women are killed by their abusers _____.

A) is justified; in self-defense
B) is justified; before leaving
C) may seem illogical; in self-defense
D) may seem illogical; after leaving

Question 23

Betty endured abuse throughout most of her 30+ years of marriage. During that time, she became less resistive to the attacks and more submissive. A term Lenore Walker used to describe this state is:

A) posttraumatic stress syndrome.
B) reorganization phase.
C) learned helplessness.
D) hypervigilance.

Question 24

Marissa has been beaten by her husband on multiple occasions. She has learned to anticipate her husband's impending violence by carefully observing minute signs of his moods and behaviors. Which of the following terms is used to describe this type of heightened attentiveness in battered women?

A) Cycle of abuse.
B) Acute battering.
C) Learned helplessness.
D) Hypervigilance.

Question 25

Hypervigilance can best be described as:

A) heightened attentiveness to the abuser's subtle behaviors.
B) lessened attentiveness to the victim's needs.
C) heightened sense of urgency to take action against the abuser.
D) lessened sense of self-worth.

Question 26

The battered woman syndrome is intended to explain all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) Why a battered woman is likely to believe she has brought the abuse upon herself.
B) Why a woman abused by her partner is likely to become more isolated and dependent on her abuser.
C) Why a woman trying to leave an abusive relationship is likely to be killed by her abuser.
D) Why an abused woman fails to leave the relationship.

Question 27

One of the most criticized parts of the battered woman syndrome (BWS) is the _____ component.

A) cycle of abuse
B) acute battering
C) learned helplessness
D) hypervigilance

Question 28

Symptoms of someone suffering from battered woman syndrome (BWS) may include all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) body image distortion.
B) high self-efficacy.
C) high levels of anxiety.
D) sexual intimacy issues.

Question 29

Statistics noted in the text indicate that serious violence perpetrated by intimate partners is _____ to happen against women.

A) more likely
B) less likely
C) equally as likely
D) unlikely

Question 30

According to the text, men in intimate relationships are _____ the victims of physical assault.

A) never
B) sometimes
C) often
D) about as frequently as women

Question 31

As hypothesized by Lenore Walker, a recurring cycle of abuse consists of:

A) tension building - acute battering - release.
B) tension - release - contrition.
C) acute battering - release - contrition.
D) tension building - acute battering - contrition.

Question 32

Until the second half of the twentieth century, wife battering was treated _____ most other forms of violence.

A) much more seriously than
B) much less seriously than
C) as seriously as
D) as lightly as

Question 33

The three phases of a cycle of abuse, according to Lenore Walker, include all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) tension building.
B) release.
C) acute battering.
D) contrition.

Question 34

Only 200 years ago, women were treated like _____ and most wife beatings were seen as a _____ matter.

A) men; criminal
B) men; private
C) property; criminal
D) property; private

Question 35

Men are _____ women to seriously injure or kill their intimate partners.

A) several times more likely than
B) slightly more likely than
C) equally as likely as
D) less likely than

Question 36

Which one of the following syndromes is an established medical condition listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)?

A) Chronic late syndrome.
B) Battered woman syndrome.
C) Posttraumatic stress disorder.
D) Black rage syndrome.

Question 37

Survey estimates cited in the text place the percentage of women who have ever experienced intimate partner violence at over _____. A corresponding figure for men is over _____.

A) 3%; 1%
B) 1%; 3%
C) 30%; 20%
D) 20%; 30%

Question 38

The tension building phase of the cycle of violence, as hypothesized by Lenore Walker, is often represented by _____, whereas the contrition phase often includes _____ expressed by the abuser.

A) beatings; verbal threats
B) kindness; denial
C) arguing; remorse
D) denial; anger

Question 39

Chris is extremely jealous and has a fear of abandonment that often spills into impulsive violent altercations with his girlfriend, especially if she spends any time with her male friends. On the other hand, he appears totally normal and nonviolent to his co-workers and friends. This type of batterer is likely to meet the criteria for:

A) antisocial personality disorder.
B) conduct disorder.
C) borderline personality disorder.
D) major depressive disorder.

Question 40

Angel has been a long-time victim of spousal abuse. The abuse escalated to the point that it was reported to the police, and the case wound up in court. Angel is MOST LIKELY to be a:

A) female.
B) male.
C) police officer.
D) skinhead.

Question 41

Regarding the scientific validity of BWS, all of the following statements are correct, EXCEPT:

A) Lenore Walker's original study on BWS has serious scientific flaws.
B) BWS does not explain why a battered woman would suddenly resort to lethal violence.
C) There are no established measures or a standard definition for BWS.
D) There has been a great deal of follow-up research to support the validity of BWS.

Question 42

A study cited in the text found that the most likely combination to sway jurors towards more lenient sentencing for a battered woman who killed her abusive husband is expert testimony on _____ combined with a(n) _____ instruction.

A) BWS; judicial nullification
B) BWS; insanity defense
C) temporary insanity; judicial nullification
D) temporary insanity; insanity defense

Question 43

A judge would often refuse to allow experts to present information about RTS to the jury. All of the following would be typical reasons for the judge's decision, EXCEPT:

A) RTS testimony may interfere with the jury's fact-finding role.
B) RTS testimony may lead to more invasive questioning of the victim.
C) RTS testimony may bias the jury against the defendant.
D) RTS testimony may lead to a successful plea of incompetence.

Question 44

According to the text, jurors appear to be _____ inclined toward women who kill their partners _____.

A) positively; after years of abuse
B) negatively; despite the evidence of abuse
C) negatively; but only if the woman killed her husband while he was asleep
D) especially positively; because they sympathize with abused women

Question 45

Self-defense can be used in a court of law when a woman is facing charges as a result of killing her batterer. However, specific criteria need to be met to plead self-defense. Which of the following does NOT meet the requirements of self-defense?

A) The victim was in danger of imminent bodily harm.
B) No reasonable avenue of escape existed.
C) The force used to repel the abuser's attack was reasonable and proportional to the danger.
D) The abuse was regular, and the victim felt scared even when the abuser was asleep.

Question 46

Some experts argue that, in battered woman cases, expert testimony should focus on the social reality of the woman's situation rather than on her psychological reactions. Which of the following is NOT a question that such social agency framework (SAF) testimony would raise?

A) How charming and charismatic was the abuser to entice the woman to stay with him?
B) How often did the woman call the police and what were the responses from the officers?
C) What were the potential risks for the woman if she left her husband?
D) Were there community resources the woman could use to help her leave the abuser?

Question 47

Because BWS and RTS are often difficult for the _____ to integrate into a trial, many have advocated for testimony about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) instead. One reason why the use of this diagnosis proves to be more helpful in cases in which a victim kills her abuser is that _____.

A) prosecution; BWS and RTS are harder for juries to understand
B) prosecution; PTSD is better established as a mental disorder
C) defense; PTSD is better established as a mental disorder
D) defense; BWS and RTS are harder for juries to understand

Question 48

According to the text, most rapes are committed by _____, with only approximately 15% of rapes being committed by _____.

A) acquaintances; family
B) acquaintances; strangers
C) strangers; acquaintances
D) strangers; family

Question 49

After enduring years of abuse including regular beatings and humiliation from her alcoholic husband, Antoinette killed him one day after he fell asleep on the couch in a drunken haze. Now Antoinette is on trial for her husband's murder. The most likely verdict jurors would reach in this case is:

A) guilty.
B) not guilty.
C) not guilty by reason of insanity.
D) guilty but mentally ill.

Question 50

Studies have found that women who used violence against their abusers were likely to be found _____ in a jury trial, and expert testimony on BWS was likely to _____.

A) guilty; support the prosecution's arguments
B) not guilty; help the defendant win an acquittal
C) guilty; make little difference
D) not guilty; matter very little

Question 51

Rape shield laws were put in place in the 1970s, to prevent lawyers from examining the sexual history of _____ at trial.

A) the defendant
B) the alleged victim
C) a typical rape victim
D) both parties

Question 52

Judicial nullification instruction can best be described as an instruction that lets jurors know that they can _____ a strict interpretation of the law _____ that legal interpretation would result in an unjust verdict.

A) only follow; even if
B) disregard; if
C) pursue; despite the fact
D) summarize; and bring it to the judge's attention

Question 53

The use of BWS in courts _____ BWS has been widely _____ by the scientific community.

A) continues unabated because; accepted and celebrated
B) continues unabated though; criticized and seen as controversial
C) has been waning because; criticized and seen as controversial
D) has been waning though; accepted and celebrated

Question 54

The term rape trauma syndrome (RTS) can best be described as a(n):

A) established legal term.
B) accepted medical diagnosis.
C) cluster of symptoms identified in a sample of rape victims.
D) psychological term applicable to all victims of abuse.

Question 55

Which of the following statements correctly describes the current state of BWS acceptance?

A) BWS is accepted by many practitioners but also criticized by many researchers.
B) Both practitioners and researchers uniformly reject the BWS diagnosis nowadays.
C) Both practitioners and researchers have been more accepting of BWS recently.
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 56

According to the original formulation of the rape trauma syndrome by Burgess and Holmstorm (1979), the first phase of the victim's recovery typically includes _____, and the second phase often includes _____.

A) severe physical and emotional disturbances; self-blame
B) severe physical and emotional disturbances; revenge
C) suppression; revenge
D) acceptance; suppression

Question 57

Rape trauma syndrome (RTS) has been:

A) just as controversial and potentially flawed as BWS.
B) much more accepted and scientifically validated than BWS.
C) used for a legal purpose similar to the one BWS is used for.
D) used as a medical diagnosis applicable to all rape victims.

Question 58

According to Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) who coined the term RTS, _____ of rape victims report that they still have not recovered 5 years after the incident.

A) about a quarter
B) over a half
C) about three quarters
D) almost all

Question 59

Legal scholars who criticize the scientific validity of BWS have noted that it also had some positive effects on the legal system. Which of the following is NOT one of these positive effects?

A) It raised awareness about the ubiquity of domestic violence.
B) It stimulated research on the dynamics of violence in relationships.
C) It helped expose the limitations of the old-fashioned, rather sexist legal standard of self-defense.
D) It led to more women being acquitted than convicted in trials where BWS testimony was used.

Question 60

Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) have described recovery from rape as a two-stage process consisting of the _____ phase and the _____ phase.

A) acceptance; healing
B) suppression; reorganization
C) acute crisis; suppression
D) acute crisis; reorganization

Question 61

What are rape shield laws and when do they NOT apply in court? Can expert testimony be problematic in this regard?

Question 62

While PTSD was originally formulated to describe the psychological symptoms of _____, the category of people most likely to develop PTSD is _____.

A) combat veterans returning from the war in Vietnam; victims of rape and severe physical abuse
B) combat veterans returning from the war in Vietnam; kidnap victims
C) kidnap victims rescued after several years in captivity; victims of rape and severe physical abuse
D) kidnap victims rescued after several years in captivity; combat veterans

Question 63

What are the disadvantages of using PTSD over RTS and BWS in court?

Question 64

Multiple studies have found that women who have experienced _____ trauma in childhood or adolescence are _____ to face another such attack or abusive relationship in adulthood.

A) physical; several times more likely
B) emotional; less likely
C) sexual; several times more likely
D) sexual; less likely

Question 65

What are the advantages of using PTSD over RTS and BWS in court?