The abstinence violation effect: Investigating lapse and relapse phenomena using the Relapse Prevention model with domestically violent men

Despite the influence of the Relapse Prevention (RP) model on understanding offence processes, there has been little research on its key components. This study sets out to-replicate research by Ward and colleagues (1994, 1995) with child sex offenders, on one aspect of the RP model - the abstinence violation effect (AVE). With a small sample of men who had assaulted an intimate partner, we sought to measure attributions and emotions at key points in the offence process. Focussing analysis on the lapse and relapse portions of the offence process, this study founds that two-thirds of the sample experienced some form of AVE. Comparing those who reported an AVE with those who did not, there were no differences in attributional ratings but those with an AVE obtained higher ratings for most negative emotions. Relationships between two attributional pairings (internal and controllable, internal and uncontrollable) and the predicted emotions provided some support. for the Ward et al. theoretical reformulation of the AVE. Overall, these findings suggest that the lapse and relapse portion of the RP model can be applied to men's partner assaults. However, there was also evidence that suggests the need to develop multiple-pathway models for this form of offending.