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Simple English definitions for legal terms

battered-spouse syndrome

Read a random definition: international criminal law

A quick definition of battered-spouse syndrome:

Battered-spouse syndrome, also known as battered-woman syndrome, is a condition that affects women who have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from their partner. It was first described in the 1970s and consists of a cycle of violence that includes tension-building, acute battering, and loving-contrition stages. This syndrome is sometimes used as a defense for women who have killed their abuser. It can affect anyone who has experienced abuse from their partner, regardless of gender.

A more thorough explanation:

Battered-spouse syndrome is a medical and psychological condition that affects individuals who have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from their spouse or partner. It is also known as battered-woman syndrome.

The syndrome was first described in the 1970s by Dr. Lenore Walker. It consists of a three-stage cycle of violence:

  • The tension-building stage, which may include verbal and mild physical abuse
  • The acute battering stage, which includes stronger verbal abuse, increased physical violence, and perhaps rape or other sexual abuse
  • The loving-contrition stage, which includes the abuser's apologies, attentiveness, kindness, and gift-giving

Battered-spouse syndrome is sometimes used as a defense to justify or mitigate a woman's killing of a man.

For example, if a woman kills her abusive husband after years of physical and emotional abuse, she may argue that she was suffering from battered-spouse syndrome and acted in self-defense.

Another example is a woman who is afraid to leave her abusive partner because she fears for her safety and the safety of her children. She may feel trapped and unable to seek help.

These examples illustrate how battered-spouse syndrome can have a profound impact on an individual's mental and physical health, as well as their ability to make decisions and seek help.

battered-person syndrome | battered-wife syndrome

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Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
Dkk
2:21
NDLS and Fordham took a very long time last year. It's good info for people to know.
[] baddestbunny
4:29
let’s get after it boys and girls
Dkk
5:21
I gtg to bed soon.
Dkk
5:22
Big day today. Gunna be a crazy one. I will sleep through the first half.
good morning lsd it is 5 am EST
also jazzy my ndls address went long ages ago i sadly do not think it means anything
my stanford address also went long LOL i think at most it's an indicator it's under review
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
7:44
My berkeley paragraph finally disappeared. I definitely think it is just an indicator that they are actively reviewing files, and does not mean anything about A, WL, or Rs
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
7:46
Also has anyone's date disappeared for W&L? Mine did last night
7:55
@WorthlessAttractiveZombie: mine did yesterday morning
7:56
Oops sorry I meant Vilanova. Mine disappeared last week
soapy
8:48
UMN under review! As predicted, decisions are gonna come out early December
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