Rational Choice and Domestic Violence: How Decision Theory can inform Domestic Violence Policy

The field of decision theory has been all but ignored in domestic violence research. As domestic violence research has evolved to the point where it recognizes the necessity of evaluating victim decision-making, decision theory could be a great asset. The following paper argues for the inclusion of decision theory in domestic violence research because of its implication for policy and practice. The argument is made through an establishment of principles of decision theory and analysis of domestic violence literature. The study incorporates interviews with victims of domestic violence and high-ranking officials in Philadelphia as well as observational work. Implications for policy in Philadelphia are discussed.