Example - Roundtable

Examining a Contextualized Integrated Model of the Origins, Effects, and Adaptive Responses to Violence and Trauma

Abstract:

The last twenty years have witnessed what can only be characterized as a dramatic and increasingly widespread interest in interpersonal violence and trauma. By some estimates, the vast majority of people will experience at least one act of intentional violence, serious, life-threatening illness or injury, or secondary trauma through learning of a loved one's victimization. The consequences of these events may lead to persistent difficulties in mental health and functioning, increased risk for subsequent re-injury, and premature morbidity and mortality.

For many reasons separate fields have developed to examine various forms of interpersonal violence and trauma, including intimate partner violence, child abuse, and community violence exposure. Another emerging field of study focuses on historical events (e.g., community massacres of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) peoples) that have had enduring consequences for families and communities. Rarely are these topics examined together, which limits our ability to develop common theories and practice approaches. Increasingly, scholars recognize the need for a more integrated model of the origins, effects, and adaptive responses to violence and trauma of all forms. This integration must be deeply mindful of the enduring interpersonal context of victims and perpetrators (socio-historical, cultural, and political) to be effective in our ultimate goals of preventing further violence, and providing humane and compassionate treatment to victim survivors.

This roundtable session will begin a dialogue about the overlap and intersection of differing forms of interpersonal violence and traumatic experiences, including intimate partner violence; community violence exposure in children; and trauma experiences of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. Presenters will focus particular attention on the situational, cultural, and historical contexts of violence and trauma that emerge from relevant theories and practice models. For example, two presenters will discuss the role of contextual factors salient to the measurement of intimate partner violence and offer suggestions for enhancing the measurement of IPV in survey research. Another two presenters will examine the context of community violence and sources of resilience within families and communities. A fifth presenter will review work on intergenerational responses to historical trauma, highlighting culturally relevant theories about its transmission across generations. Our goal is to stimulate conversation that will promote understanding of the shared contributions and challenges of research on these topics, ways to further integration across topics, and emerging areas of scholarship and practice.