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Key turning points of these relationships include the first emergence of the man's violence, his blaming of the victim, her attempts to resist, his escalation, her attempts to end the relationship, and his punishment for her defiance. Critical perspective on the men's accounts comes from interviews with victims of attempted homicide (standing in for the murder victims) who survived shootings, stabbings, and strangulation. These women detail their partner's escalating patterns of child abuse, sexual violence, terroristic threats, and stalking. The section on help-seeking patterns of victims helps to dispel notions of learned helplessness among victims.
David Adams, a licensed psychologist, is co-founder and co-director of Emerge, established in 1977, the first counseling program in the nation for men who abused women. He has conducted trainings for social service and criminal justice professionals in 38 states and ten countries. Adams is Director of the National Domestic Violence Danger Assessment Training Project.
Forthcoming Events

“TN Writers | TN Stories” Series: Author Leigh Ann Gardner in Conversation with Natalie Bell
Saturday. June 11, 2022 | 11:00 am
Tennessee State Museum (1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208)
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“TN Writers | TN Stories” Series: Author Rachel Louise Martin
Saturday. July 9, 2022 | 10:30 am
Tennessee State Museum (1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208)
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“TN Writers | TN Stories” Series: Authors Learotha Williams Jr. and Amie Thurber
Saturday. August 13, 2022 | 10:30 am
Tennessee State Museum (1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208)
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Conferences and Virtual Exhibits
Wednesday. September 14, 2022 | 9:00 am
Visit our information page for more details.
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