QUESTION 1
The Clinical Model is a traditional intervention where the perpetrator of the violence is institutionalized and offered psychological treatment. It is advantageous in the sense that the intervention methods are based on research and provides clear guidelines for interview of the perpetrator and victim (Koss et al, 1994). The model also allows for clinical follow-up and provides probability estimates. However, it heavily relies on intuition, non-empirical evidence and the judgment and memory of the individual clinician. Its efficacy is also greater when the perpetrator is indeed with psychological or mental problems.
The Actuarial Method is empirically-based intervention to domestic violence that does not need clinical judgment. It depends on static variables and predictive values. Statistical prediction are about 10 percent more accurate compared to clinical prediction, besides predicting forensic outcomes of criminal and violent behavior relatively better (Koss et al, 1994). The disadvantage of actuarial model is that when clinicians or psychologists utilize actuarial risk assessments for domestic violence, there is risk of adjusting the actuarial results based on clinical intuition in ways not backed by evidence. Also, the transition to reliance in actuarial model is comparatively slower and difficult that anticipated.
QUESTION 2 – Domestic Violence Risk Prediction
The case of James J. Felbaum, 40, and his wife Tammy L. Felbaum, 42, is a typical example of domestic violence that ended in death of the husband. The couple from Butler County, Pa. fought on February 22, 2001 because Tammy (a post-operational transgender woman) suspected that the husband had cheated on her (Bell, 2013). This made James to attempt castration on himself overnight while Tammy was asleep. In the morning, upon James signing a consent form, Tammy helped in completing the castration and stitching him in a makeshift operation. At the age of 21, Tammy had performed a similar operation on herself prior to undergoing a sex-change operation.
The following Sunday, Tammy came back to find James unconscious after taking excessive painkillers. She called paramedics, after which James was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital (Bell, 2013). Tammy was convicted 11 years in prison for involuntary man-slaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, as well as unauthorized practice of medicine. A search of the back yard of their property had also revealed numerous dead animals e.g. turtles, a cat and a parakeet stung up in a tree, making her to be charged with animal cruelty (Bell, 2013).
The lethality risk factors present in this case included physical abuse prior to death, pathological jealousy, intense level of attachment between partners, and history physical harm, excessive drug overdose, and cruelty to animals.
References:
Koss, M.P., Goodman, L.A., Browne, A., Fitzgerald, L.F., Keita, G.P., & Russo, N.F. (1994). No Safe Haven: Male violence against women at home, at work, and in the community. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Bell, R. (2013). Crimes Below the Belt: Penile Removal and Castration. Retrieved from: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/sexual_assault/severed_penis/6.html
