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Blanca Caro’s Three Minute Thesis


The CTS2: One Size Does Not Fit All

Literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) is teeming with inconsistent findings regarding men and women’s experience with perpetrating or experiencing abuse. Scholars argue that the source of this problem is the one-size-sits-all assessment of IPV. Specifically, the CTS2 is under scrutiny as it became a widely adopted measure of violence. The CTS2’s theoretical model is believed to be a flawed conceptualization of violence; scholars argue against its use as an umbrella assessment. This study evaluated the appropriateness of using the CTS2 to compare IPV experience across genders. The findings have significant implications for the direction of the IPV literature.

Counseling Psychology

Blanca is a feminist therapist and intimate partner violence researcher. She is a doctoral candidate and identifies as a Chicana, social justice advocate, and feminist. Her research interests include: intimate partner homicide, intimate partner violence within minority populations, homicide risk assessment, and female perpetrators of partner violence.