ABSTRACT
A fundamental characteristic of the treatment of traumaorganized systems is the tremendous difficulty in breaking the taboo of silence and, once the taboo is broken, to maintain and develop the resulting conversations for the victim, the victimizer, and other protective figures in the family. An extension of the issue of responsibility for direct abusive action is the attitude of the other parent in child abuse. In partner abuse, the issue of the extended family response may be an important aspect of whether a victim of marital abuse can find protection and support from an extended family, or will be criticized, blamed, and almost driven back into the arms of the abusive partner who shows contrition, shame, and guilt. If the individual victimizer is taking little or no responsibility for the abuse, he or she will be unlikely to acknowledge the presence of personal factors that may, in addition, play a major role in violent or abusive actions.
