Abstract

CARVALHO-BARRETO, André de; BUCHER-MALUSCHKE, Júlia Sursis Nobre Ferro; ALMEIDA, Paulo César de  and  DESOUZA, Eros. Human development and gender violence: a bioecological integration. Psicol. Reflex. Crit. [online]. 2009, vol.22, n.1, pp. 86-92. ISSN 0102-7972.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722009000100012.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the etiology of gender violence using the Bioecological Theory of Human Development. Such approach considers gender violence as a multidimensional phenomenon grounded in an interrelationship among several factors. Thus, this model is an heuristic tool that organizes several factors into four levels: personal (biological and psychological characteristics), processing (interpersonal interaction), contextual (social support network, community, and culture), and temporal (intra-, inter-, and trans-generational). The authors suggest that the proposed model is a useful tool for guiding future research studies and interventions.

Keywords : Gender violence; domestic violence; violence against women; human development.