A Closer Look at Men Who Sustain Intimate Terrorism by Women

Abstract

Over 30 years of research has established that both men and women are capable of sustaining intimate partner violence (IPV) by their opposite-sex partners, yet little research has examined men's experiences in such relationships. Some experts in the field have forwarded assumptions about men who sustain IPV–for example, that the abuse they experience is trivial or humorous and of no consequence and that, if their abuse was severe enough, they have the financial and psychological resources to easily leave the relationship–but these assumptions have little data to support them. The present study is an in-depth, descriptive examination of 302 men who sustained severe IPV from their women partners within the previous year and sought help. We present information on their demographics, overall mental health, and the types and frequency of various forms of physical and psychological IPV they sustained. We also provide both quantitative and qualitative information about their last physical argument and their reasons for staying in the relationship. It is concluded that, contrary to many assumptions about these men, the IPV they sustain is quite severe and both mentally and physically damaging; their most frequent response to their partner's IPV is to get away from her; and they are often blocked in their efforts to leave, sometimes physically, but more often because of strong psychological and emotional ties to their partners and especially their children. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for policy and practice.

Violencia en el noviazgo desde la perspectiva de varones adolescentes

“…En cuanto al sexo del agresor la literatura científica ha apuntado que son las mujeres quienes suelen ejercer más violencia psicológica que la física, ocasionando así daños emocionales, psicológicos y sociales en sus parejas (Hines & Douglas, 2010;Lysova, 2007). Sin embargo a últimas fechas algunas investigaciones han observado la presencia de este tipo de agresión cometida tanto por hombres como por mujeres (Dietz & Jasinski, 2003), sin importar edades o contextos (Kaukinen, Gover, & Hartman, 2012).…”

“…De ese modo se esperaba que los participantes señala-ran haber sufrido violencia psicológica (Hines & Douglas, 2010), física (Rey, 2008) además de haber sufrido violencia sexual (Chávez et al, 2009) por parte de su pareja durante el noviazgo. Además era esperable que ellos manifestaran haber sufrido conductas de ciber-violencia por parte de sus parejas (Velázquez, 2013).…”

Sex Differences in Response to Victimization by an Intimate Partner: More Stigmatization and Less Help-Seeking among Males

“…Some researchers have suggested that victimized males face a different set of challenges than victimized females (e.g., Hines & Douglas, 2009, 2010a, 2010b and that studies of battered females will not suffice in providing a theoretical framework for understanding male victimization (e.g., George, 1994). Hines and Douglas (2009) argued that societal expectations of male dominance and the potentially greater stigma faced by male victims will likely make it more difficult to identify and treat targeted males and aggressive females (see also Gilbert, 2002).…”

Toward an integrated approach in research on interpersonal violence : Conceptual and methodological challenges

“…An example of this is that for a man to be labelled 'victim' by a female perpetrator may be threatening to his sense of masculinity (Anderson, 2005). Also, male victims of intimate partner violence by female partners are often reluctant to seek help because they are afraid of not being taken seriously, not being believed, or being seen as the main perpetrator of violence (Hines and Douglas, 2010a;Nybergh, 2014). Social reluctance to see women as perpetrators of violence is also found in the way female perpetrators of intimate partner violence are sometimes explained and understood as victims of previous violence, in childhood or in relation to partners.…”