Trial lecture - time and place
Thursday 11 June, at 10:15 in room B-137
Title of the trial lecture:
"Why do people commit harm? Current theoretical perspectives on the perpetration of intimate partner violence"
Defence starts at 12:15 in room B-137
Adjudication committee
- Professor Lynette M. Renner, University of Minnesota, USA
- PhD/ Researcher Lars Roar Frøyland, OsloMet
- Associate Professor Ole Kristian Brones Berg, Molde University College, Department of Health Science and Social Care
Chair of defence
Dean Liv Bachmann, Molde University College, Department of Health Science and Social Care
Supervisors
- Main supervisor: Solveig Karin Bø Vatnar, Oslo University Hospital / Professor II, Molde University College
- Co supervisor: Professor Kevin Stewart Douglas, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Background
Intimate partner violence is a serious societal and public health problem, which Norway, like many other countries, is mandated to prevent under international agreements and human rights. Although the prevalence of intimate partner violence in Norway is lower than in many other countries, it remains a persistent problem affecting many people.
Various measures and strategies are used in Norway to prevent violence. One of these is the duty to avert in the Penal Code. It obliges all persons to try to prevent serious crimes if they have reason to believe that such an offence will occur. This also applies to intimate partner violence.
The duty to avert applies regardless of confidentiality rules. This means that professionals who would normally be prohibited from sharing information may nevertheless be mandated to report violence. Internationally, this has been controversial because it has been argued that such rules can undermine trust between helper and help-seeker. The World Health Organization has previously warned against such rules, partly because they may deter victims from seeking help. European oversight bodies have also criticised Norway, arguing that the duty may be at odds with an individual’s right to self determination.
About the thesis
The thesis examines how different professional groups in Norway handle the duty to report intimate partner violence. The study is based on responses from 374 employees from the police, child welfare services, emergency primary health care, domestic violence shelters and treatment services for violence and aggression. The results show that most support reporting serious violence, but that practice varies. Experience plays an important role: the more contact professionals have with such cases, the less sceptical they are of the duty. At the same time, the choice to report or not was complex, and confidence in the law, experience with relevant cases, and perceptions of whether others report influenced that choice. There are also differences between professions in terms of experience, knowledge and attitudes toward the duty to avert, although these differences are smaller than might be expected. The study indicates that better training and clearer guidelines could make it easier to act appropriately. Overall, the work shows that this is a demanding field with difficult trade offs between collaboration and trust, and the duty to intervene.
Despite the debate, there is little research on the topic. In particular, studies are lacking on how professionals relate to, experience and use the duty to avert in their work. Existing research largely comes from the United States and has mainly focused on healthcare personnel. Many studies have used simple methods, which has yielded limited knowledge.
The thesis provides insight into a duty that everyone has to prevent serious or persistent intimate partner violence among professionals who encounter this problem. No one should have to live with serious or persistent intimate partner violence, and as a society we are mandated to prevent it. Therefore, it is important to investigate to what extent this important preventive measure is used and how those mandated to report relate to the duty. Professionals who work with intimate partner violence are an important societal resource in the fight against such violence. It is therefore important to gain more knowledge about their work with the duty to avert.
About the candidate
Christine Nordby (28) is from Nøtterøy. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Psychology and a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology (2021), both awarded by Royal Holloway, University of London. Her doctoral work is funded by the Research Council of Norway and Molde University College and is affiliated with the research project “MANREPORT-IPV: Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence».