Lecture 10: Female perpetrated intimate partner violence

Question 1

2 definitions of intimate partner violence

Answer 1

• Dixon (2017) Act of emotional, verbal and physical aggression, coercion, punishment against an intimate partner
• Holtzworth-Munroe typology = distinctions between mild, moderate and severe batterers = subtypes can be related to different risk factors, motivations, consequence, interventions

Question 2

Gender perceptions of IPV

Answer 2

• Biggest risk factor is male
• UK twice as many females victims of IPV
• UK ONS (2016) = found higher % of females used force than males and male perpetration more prevalent in almost all categories of IPV except intimate relationships = females use more force (but not to sig effect

Question 3

Partner aggression stereotypes

Answer 3

• Qualitative analysis of data from focus group
• Ask about opinions about makes male/female aggressive
• Found men express aggression through physical means
• Women express through less direct and verbal means
• Found men became aggressive due to physical actions e.g. cheating, drugs
• Females became aggressive due to verbal behaviour e.g. name calling

Question 4

Underreporting and stigma

Answer 4

Components of stigma affecting survivors of IPVL:

• Blame
• Discrimination
• Los of status
• Isolation
• Shame

Question 5

Causes of IPV: dominance by one partner

Answer 5

• Straus (2008)
• Asked males and females (couples) separately to give responses on measure of dominance and measure of how often they are violent/partner violent
• Found male dominance assertion drove aggression
• Male responses on male dominance predicts male violence = odds ratio: 2.3 (100% increase)
• Female responses on female dominance predicts female violence = odds ratio: 3.4 (100% increase)
• Questions that male dominance causes aggression = female dominance more frequently causes aggression in relationships
• With every month of relationship, chance of violence increases by 3-5% = 25 months is pivotal moment

Question 6

Women’s correlates of fIPV

Answer 6

Potential risk factors:

• Trauma symptoms
• Emotional dysregulation
• Substance misuse
• Attachment issues
• Interpersonal dependency

Motivations:

• Expression of feelings in 70% of studies
• Self-defence in 87% of studies
• Coercive control in 61% of studies
• Concludes not all instances of female IPV form of self-defence

Question 7

Relationship of cardiovascular activity to male IPV perception

Answer 7

Male HR responses to marital interaction:

• Couples sit opposite each other and speak
• All males invited had history of physically aggressing against partner
• 2 responses;
• -> Deceleration (type 1) = low RHR = more proactive, aggressive, antisocial, drug dependent
• -> Acceleration (type 2) = associated with partners divorcing

Question 8

Low RHR and offending

Answer 8

• HR largely dictated by balance of SNS and PNS
• Could reflect
• -> Low sympathetic activity
• -> High parasympathetic activity
• -> Both
• HRV (heart rate variability) = index of parasympathetic activity and high HRV associated with good emotion regulation and executive function
• Predicted proactive aggression associated with high HRV
• Predicted female IPV linked to low RHR, high HRV and proactive aggression

Question 9

Linking HR to lack of empathy

Answer 9

-Low resting HR related to psychopathy

• Meanness = triarchic model of psychopathy:
• -> Characterised by callousness and lack of empathy
• -> Related to proactive aggression
• Predicts the fIPV associated with meanness
• Strong link between meanness and proactive aggression

Question 10

Linking HR to lack of empathy study: method

Answer 10

• 92 heterosexual uni students in stable relationships
• Questionnaires:
• -> Triarchic psychopathy measure
• -> Reactive-proactive aggression
• -> Conflict tactics scale 2 (IPV) = 40% said slapped by partner within 12 months
• Recorded ECG trace for 5 mins = recorded RHR and HRV
• Sig differences between IPV and non-IPV
• HRV higher for aggressive females
• Females who aggressed were more proactive
• Boldness and meanness were higher for the IPV physical group

Question 11

Linking HR to lack of empathy study: conclusions

Answer 11

Female IPV-PA (physical aggression) related to:

• Low rHR and high HRV
• Reactive and proactive aggression
• Callous lack of empathy and confidence/courage
• Underlying biological mechanisms for IPV similar for both genders = as no sig difference between genders in terms of physically aggressing towards partners
• Low rHR and offending may be driven by high HRV = associated with expression of proactive aggression