Aug. 20, 2003

What's in a Name?

Forum Column - By Nausheen Hassan - Laws in all 50 states recognize some version of battered women's syndrome, which purports to explain the psychology of battered women's behavior. The concept is important, but for years domestic violence experts have urged moving away from battered women's syndrome terminology. The U.S. Department of Justice issued a report in 1996 calling on advocates to do away with the term.