Work

Why I Hit Him: Women's Reasons for Intimate Partner Violence

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines motives for intimate partner violence (IPV) among a community sample of 412 women who used IPV against male partners. A "Motives and Reasons for IPV scale" is proposed, and exploratory factor analyses identified five factors: expression of negative emotions, self-defense, control, jealousy, and tough guise. To our knowledge, the study is the first to investigate the relationship between women's motives for IPV and their perpetration of physical, psychological, and sexual aggression, as well as coercive control, toward partners. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed participants' aggression was driven by complex, multiple motives. All five motives were related to a greater frequency of perpetrating IPV. Treatment programs focusing on women's IPV perpetration should address both defensive and proactive motives.

Source: Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma

DOI: 10.1080/10926770903231783

Authors: Jennifer E. Caldwell, Suzanne C. Swan, Christopher T. Allen, Tami P. Sullivan, David L. Snow

Institutions: University of South Carolina, Yale University

Language: English

Topic: Intimate Partner and Family Violence

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute on Drug Abuse