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Running Head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

Annotated Bibliography on Domestic Violence in the NFL


Justin Fawcett
University of Texas at El Paso

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

Douglas A. Orr. (2003). Battered Woman Syndrome Is a Valid Defense. In M. E. Williams & T.L.
Roleff (Ed.), Sexual Violence: Opposing Viewpoints (pp. 129-133). Farmington Hills, MI:
Greenhaven Press.
The chapter, Battered Woman Syndrome Is a Valid Defense written by an attorney
admitted to practice in Florida and New Jersey, Douglas A. Orr, introduces the ideology
of battered woman syndrome as a valid defense in miscellaneous court cases where the
victim kills his/her spouse because of fear. In such cases, woman use this syndrome as a
defense to claim that killing their husband or boyfriend was the last resort to escape their
partners abuse. Orr insists that this type of defense has been beneficial to abused women
who have oftentimes been re-victimized by the law. Orr uses the Weiand Case as an
example. Kathleen Weiand who shot and killed her husband Todd, used battered spouse
syndrome as her defense, she lived in such fear of Todd that she had no choice but to
kill him, fearing that if she did not, he would kill her (Orr, 2003). Orr also exemplifies
the notion of the tripartite self-defense standard and the equal force doctrine. The former
is a self-defense standard where a defendant must establish the presence of the following
three elements: 1) the defendant believed she must use force against an imminent threat
of harm; 3) the amount of force used was proportionate to the threatened harm; and 3) the
defendant retreated to the greatest degree reasonably possible. Proof that a woman suffers
from battered spouse syndrome only focuses on the first part of this standard, particularly,
whether the woman truly feared for her life. The duty to retreat is the third part of this
standard which coincides with the so-called castle doctrine. Fundamentally, the castle
doctrine is premised on the notion that a mans home is his castle (Orr, 2003). In
regards to this third part of the tripartite self-defense standard, the castle doctrine is

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

determined when a victim is threatened by an assailant with violence in the victims


home, which often leads the victim to turn aggressor without any duty of retreat, and still
be able to defend their actions by claiming they acted in self-defense. In essence, the third
part of the standard is inapplicable in a defendants own home because of this doctrine.
In addition, Orr also illustrates the concept of the equal force doctrine. This theory is
premised on part two of the self-defense test, which the amount of force used must be
equal to the threatened harm. This also leaves most beaten victims unable to justifiably
defend themselves and unable to claim self-defense at trial because when a victim is
attacked, they lack the ability to respond proportionately to the harm being inflicted upon
the victim by the aggressor. As a result, women are at a disadvantage to claim selfdefense since they are unable to respond with equal force in regards to an attack by their
spouse. Finally, Orr mentions the need for weapons. The majority of battered women who
kill their aggressors must resort to a weapon. For every 100 abused women who kill their
violent spouses, 75 used guns, 13 used knives, 5 used a car, 1 used a sledgehammer, 1
used poison, and the final 4 hired killers. In contrast to this statistic, only three quarters of
male victims who kill their female spouses use any weapon other than their fists.
This chapter from the book, Sexual Violence: Opposing Viewpoints, is quite useful
because it helps illustrate the idea that victims often come to the tipping point where they
resort to killing their partner because they can no longer escape the abuse. The author is
also very credible because he has practiced law and has a doctorate at Rutgers School of
Law in Newark. The publisher, Greenhaven Press, is a college curriculum that demands
students to assess information in multiple points of view.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

The evidence given by this chapter will help me prove that domestic violence is at times
relentless, but by creating awareness and helping victims as soon as possible, society can
prevent lives from being lost.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

Joe Wheeler Dixon. Douglas A. Orr. (2003). Battered Woman Syndrome Is Not a Valid Defense.
In M. E. Williams & T.L. Roleff (Ed.), Sexual Violence: Opposing Viewpoints (pp. 134-139).
Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
The chapter, Battered Woman Syndrome Is a Valid Defense written by a clinical and
forensic psychologist, Joe Wheeler Dixon, demonstrates that battered woman syndrome
is not a valid defense in various court cases where a victim kills his/her spouse because of
fear. Dixon exemplifies the viewpoint in which battered women syndrome has been the
defense in many court trials to absolve women for murdering their spouses. Dixon states
that the syndrome has no scientific basis and it is impossible to see who suffers from it
since clinicians, under various conditions, use multiple signs to diagnose the syndrome.
He also mentions the use of this syndrome in court cases actually harms woman by
perpetuating stereotypes of female helplessness and mental deficiency. In this chapter
Dixon demonstrates there is no evidence for battered woman syndrome. Dixon also
mentions that there is insufficient empirical evidence to demonstrate that this syndrome
meets the precise diagnostic principles of psychology or the law. He also claims the
syndrome has become a psychological-styled diagnosis and it exonerates the womans
actions.
This chapter is credible since the author is a clinical and forensic psychologist who is a
professor of law at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham,
Alabama. The publisher, Greenhaven Press, is a college curriculum that demands students
to assess information in multiple points of view.
The evidence supports the ideology where victims of domestic violence often use this
syndrome to their advantage by enabling themselves to get away with murder.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

Gregory, S. (2014, September 30). Are NFL Head Injuries Causing Domestic Violence? Time
Magazine. Retrieved from http://time.com/3450441/nfl-head-injuries-domestic-violence-jovanbelcher/
The article Are NFL Head Injuries Causing Domestic Violence, written by Sean
Gregory, illustrates the possibility that NFL players who have football-related brain
trauma may be linked to the NFLs most troubling issue of domestic violence. In the
article, Gregory demonstrates this possibility of brain trauma being the cause of domestic
violence within the NFL by briefly explaining a situation that occurred in September of
2012. Gregory stated that the Kansas City Chief linebacker, Jovan Belcher, shot and
killed his girlfriend before he fatally shot himself in the team parking lot. Gregory argues
that a person couldnt help but wonder whether or not head injuries associated with
football could have contributed to this horrible act. Also described in the article is a
symptom known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE. CTE is a brain disease
that has impacted the brains of 30 deceased NFL players, some of which committed
suicide. Gregory also defends his illustration by explaining what went on during
Belchers wrongful death lawsuit filed by his daughter. According to a neuropathological
report that was arranged during the wrongful death lawsuit by the attorneys of Belchers
daughter, Belchers brain damaged showed signs of damage that were fully consistent
with the pathological presentation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) as it is
reported in the medical literature.
This article from Time Magazine is very helpful in demonstrating that there are various
ways a person can act in a violent manner when it comes to domestic violence. Although
this source is somewhat biased to a persons question, I believe the information is reliable

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because in the article are given facts given by credible neurologists who examined a NFL
players brain. The brain was from a NFL player who committed an act of violence, in
this case murder-suicide, and the goal of the article will help me prove that domestic
violence is preventable in my future assignments.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

Smith, M. (2015, February). Domestic Violence and Abuse. Helpguide.org. Retrieved March 8,
2015 from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/domestic-violence-and-abuse.htm
The webpage helpguide.org, defines what domestic violence and abuse is and offers
multiple ways in which the two can be prevented. The websites article Domestic
Violence and Abuse also offers tips on stopping domestic violence and lists the steps in
which a victim can get help. Helpguide.org demonstrates the signs of an abusive
relationship by providing a chart Signs That Youre In An Abusive Relationship (M.
Smith, 2015). The website also describes certain types of emotional abuse and states, Its
a bigger problem than you think. (M. Smith, 2015). The authors show how victims can
understand emotional abuse as well as financial abuse with a given chart. Also provided
are tactics used by abusers to exert their power. It also states in a chart that, Abusers are
able to control their behavior they do it all the time, (M. Smith, 2015).
The webpage is definitely a credible source because it is authored and created by an
organization that attempts to prevent domestic violence and abuse. The site also offers
numbers helplines which provide direct help for victims who are being abused.
With given charts similar to, Abusers are able to control their behavior they do it all
the time, I will be able to defend my argument that abusers are able to control their
emotions, and because of this, domestic violence is preventable.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE NFL

Ouisa Davis (March 13, 2015). El Paso Times. How You Can Help Those Facing Domestic
Violence.
The newspaper article, How you can help those facing domestic violence, by Ouisa
Davis, outlines the belief that we live in a culture of violence. Her article also illustrates
her viewpoint towards domestic violence. In the second and third paragraph, Davis shares
her thought on how it is shocking to hear about homicides and suicides related to
domestic violence, but the signs were always visible. She also believes the evidence has
always been around when acts of domestic violence have been committed, but we as a
society have chosen to ignore those signs and walk away. With the ideology given by
Davis, one can infer that signs of abuse are visible and they have been all long. A reader
can also interpret that signs are often ignored. Davis also exemplifies how domestic
violence often occurs where she witnessed young people in dating relationships pushing,
punching, and slapping at each other. Davis claims that it is true that we cannot control
actions and decisions made by people around us, but we can attend to those in need when
we witness the abuse of children, partners, or the elderly and the disabled. She also
mentions that by educating ourselves and others about the resources given in our
community, we as a community will be able to determine when we are in danger, thus
giving us the ability to reach out for help.
This newspaper article is credible because it is written by Ouisa D. Davis who is an
attorney at law in El Paso. It is also plausible because it lists resources a victim can reach
out to such as, The Center Against Family Violence, which is an organization that

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provides safety planning for domestic violence victims. The article also lists processes a
victim can follow to protect themselves from further harm.
This article supports the idea that domestic violence is preventable.

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Webb, B, (2012). Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Curbing the Trend of Domestic Violence in the
National Football League and Major League Baseball. American University Journal of Gender
Social Policy and Law, 20 (3), 742-761.
The article, Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Curbing the Trend of Domestic Violence in the
National Football League and Major League Baseball, written by Brant Webb, examines
the existing disciplinary policies and procedures of the NFL and MLB, and their strengths
and weaknesses when applied to situations involving all forms of domestic violence. This
article also exemplifies: 1) the disciplinary authority in the NFL, 2) the NFLs initial steps
to resolve conduct issues, 3) the overview of the personal conduct policy, 4) the view of
NFL and domestic violence before and after 2007 regarding Steve Muhammad, Ben
Roethlisberger, and various amendments, 5) Why the NFL and MLB have been slow to
react to domestic violence.
Webbs article is credible because it is available through the Washington College of Law
Journals and Law Reviews at Digital Commons at American University Washington
College of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Gender, Social Policy
and the Law by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons at the American
University Washington College of Law.
This article supports the idea that NFL players are not responsible, nor receive
punishment, for their actions.

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Blumstein, A., Benedict J., (1999). Criminal Violence of NFL Players Compared to the General
Population. Duke University, 12 (3), 1-3.
The article, Criminal Violence of the NFL Players Compared to the General
Population, written by Alfred Blumstein and Jeff Benedict, analyzes the statistical
difference between players who commit acts of violence and the general population who
also commit unrighteous acts. This article also demonstrates with statistical data that NFL
rates of domestic violence are quite lower than the general population. With an objective
view towards the difference of NFL players towards the general population committing
crimes, the article also focuses on questions like, Does their greater public visibility
generate restraint? Do they realize they are much more vulnerable to an expensive civil
suit? Was their time in college a restraining influence? Are police less likely to arrest
them because of their hero status? These types of questions help one speculate about
explanations for this difference.
Although this article was written in 1999, the article is written by two students from Duke
University and has plausible statistics given by the FBI and other credible statistical
organizations.
This article will help me defend my argument that NFL players are treated different than
the general population.

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Katie Roiphe. (2003). Battered Woman Syndrome Is a Valid Defense. In M. E. Williams & T.L.
Roleff (Ed.), Sexual Violence: Opposing Viewpoints (pp. 129-133). Farmington Hills, MI:
Greenhaven Press.
The chapter, Women Should Avoid Claiming Status as Victims, written by Katie
Roiphe, visualizes, the viewpoint that anti-rape demonstrations encourage women to
view themselves as actual or potential victims of sexual violence (Roiphe, 2003).
Roiphes argument is that when victims speak about their feelings in a form of
victimization and helplessness, they are encouraging and reinforcing the stereotype that
women are weak and vulnerable. Roiphe also gives examples throughout the chapter of
women claiming their status as victims by outlining various scenarios. These examples
include the Princeton march against sexual violence, a similarity among victims stories,
the popularity of being silenced, excluding half the community, self-congratulation, false
accusation, political fictions, and the spectacle of mass confession. Roiphe concludes her
chapter with the ideology that victimhood is not strength. She argues that an individual
conversation is light years away from the spectacle of mass confession. She finds the
public demand for intimacy to be strange and unconvincing. In her introductory
paragraph she shares her thoughts on the march demonstrated by the Princeton women.
Roiphe argues that although the march is intended to celebrate and bolster womens
strength, instead it seems as if the women are celebrating their vulernability. It is also as
if the women marching seem to accept, or even embrace, the mantle of victim status. As
the speakers describe each and every fear, ever possible horror suffered at the hands of

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men, the image they are projecting is one of helplessness and passivity. Roiphe believes
this march simply elaborates on just how vulnerable women are.
This chapter is credible because it is written by an author who often writes about sexual
violence and domestic abuse. It is also published by the Greenhaven press which is a
college curriculum that demands its students to assess situations with different
viewpoints.
The information and valid arguments given by the author will allow me to defend my
stance that women should be viewed as strong, intelligent human beings, and deserve
respect.

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