Abstract

Although violence in personal relationships has existed for a very long time, it is only recently that violence is recognised as a problem. The first part of this article describes the history of the formulation of the problem. During this history, new groups of victims successively asked attention for their problems and called for help. These calls for help induced the development of a specialised offer of assistance for the victims of violence. On the other hand, the existant welfare and care facilities also developed a sensitivity to the problem. Working with victims of violence puts a specific burden on the care-givers. The fact that the offer of assistance for victims of violence is very differentiated and characterised by an open-field system also causes some problems. The second part of this contribution adresses to these problems. The growing visibility of the problem of violence didn't only result in the development of an offer of assistance, but also in a policy-making against violence in personal relationships. Policy-makers mandated universities with research on violence, to support their policy. The assistance-givers are a part to this research in several ways: they are interested in the research-findings, but they also may be research-subjects. The last part of the contribution describes the relationship between care-givers and researchers. We examine the reciprocal functions researchers and care givers may fulfil for each other and we try to explain why the relationship between both parties is sometimes difficult.

How to Cite:

Bruynooghe, R. & Opdebeeck, S., (1994) “De hulpverlening bij geweldproblemen in persoonlijke relaties”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 15(3-4), 253–273. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86200