New Zealand has challenging rates of family violence. But most research into non-violence programmes has involved studies of reoffending rates, theories of violence, or investigation of the perspectives of academics and health professionals. The Ministry of Social Development came to Verian with a different need – to help identify the support needs of users of violence and assess how existing services and alternative aids could better support their clients. The project involved engaging men who are abusive to their partners, but who have not sought support for their behaviour.
But how do you get men with abusive behaviours, often in a state of denial and shame, to engage with a research project, let alone articulate what they needed to change?
Right from the outset, our aim with the research was to walk alongside men, whilst never losing sight of the harm that abusive behaviours cause. We sensitively engaged 29 men who were, or had previously been, abusive towards their partners. These men were recruited through a variety of finely calibrated methods – through community networking, sector contacts and discussion forums.
Alongside our experienced research team, we surrounded the project with a support team which included a men’s expert, a stopping violence co-ordinator and a clinical psychologist, on hand should any of the men disclose current instances of serious violence.
We used an empathy-centred research approach in our discussions, encouraging men to talk about their challenges with violence and abusive behaviours without judgement. Our researchers prioritised rapport building and confidentiality at the beginning of discussion in order to create psychological safe spaces for men to talk honestly and openly about their challenges.
“Look, in short, [Verian researcher] is the best example [of a facilitator] I can think of. He made me not feel filthy or like he was disgusted by what I was saying. I am disgusted in some of my past, so it was nice to be treated like that. He needed to know... everything and that made me feel important and made me not lie. I felt like if he did that for me I'd be vigilant with my truth.”
- Respondent - former user of violence
This approach led to personal disclosures among many of the men we spoke to. Some men told us that this was the first time they had talked about these instances of violence or their own personal trauma.
The findings from the research directly influenced the evidence-based service framework for Te Huringa ō Te Ao, a new family violence service that supports sustainable behaviour change for men to restore whānau wellbeing.
The research was shared with over 60 community service providers, as inspiration for them as they create new ways to support men on their journeys of change to break the cycles of violence, and to create and sustain intergenerational change.