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Simple English definitions for legal terms

battered-wife syndrome

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A quick definition of battered-wife syndrome:

Battered-Wife Syndrome: A condition that affects women who have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from their spouse or 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. Sometimes, it is used as a defense for women who have killed their abuser.

A more thorough explanation:

Battered-wife syndrome is a medical and psychological condition that affects women who have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from their spouse or partner. It is also known as battered-woman syndrome or battered-spouse 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-wife syndrome is sometimes used as a defense to justify or mitigate a woman's killing of her abuser.

For example, if a woman is being physically abused by her husband and she kills him in self-defense, she may use battered-wife syndrome as a defense in court. The defense argues that the woman was suffering from a psychological condition that made her feel trapped and helpless, and that she acted out of fear for her life.

battered-spouse syndrome | battered woman

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18:49
thank you my little crow friend
Dkk
18:50
Med law easy done
medicine is a scam
join the ethically ambiguous legal field instead
Dkk
18:57
I want to meet an attorney that defends clients who run into flat earth problems. I want an attorney that knows and believes in flat earth theory.
19:05
i want a flat earther for president. i want a guy who posts on 4chan for president. i want someone who mogs for president.
Dkk
19:18
Exactly. My version of that awful poem.
Dkk
19:19
I can accept a president with maybe one or two of the poems traits hut good God, all of them??? No ty.
windyMagician
19:20
president who respects sex is crazy
windyMagician
19:20
we had bill clinton already
Dkk
19:21
Bill Clinton, first and last black president
windyMagician
19:23
I want to go running but my leg feels weird
windyMagician
19:23
it doesn't hurt its just tingly
Dkk
19:26
It needs more alcohol. You tingle when your nerves need watering.
19:27
try stretching it maybe to see what's up
windyMagician
19:27
stretches make me think it's just soreness
windyMagician
19:27
I'm sober lol
Dkk
19:38
Anyone else get the google notification that your LSD password has been compromised lol. LSD got hacked.
20:48
what.jpg @Dkk
CynicalOops
21:03
You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?
jackfrost11770
21:10
nope dk
CynicalOops
22:37
Calvinamala Harris
jackfrost11770
23:16
should i start using letterboxed again
Dkk
23:25
@jackfrost11770: if you want but like it aint for me
dk do u ever eat at bk
Dkk
23:48
@chickenburgahfart: I would do that in the Army if really desperate for food or if I had to work through lunch. One of the few fast food places I go to.
bk so slept on
Dkk
0:23
I will take In N Out everyday over it when I can though.
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