Childhood Trauma and Dissociative Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

The present study assesses childhood abuse/neglect as a predictor of dissociative intimate partner violence (IPV) among 118 partner-abusive men. One third (36%) endorsed dissociative IPV, most commonly losing control (18%), surroundings seeming unreal (16%), feeling someone other than oneself is aggressing (16%), and seeing oneself from a distance aggressing (10%). Childhood physical abuse/neglect predicted IPV-specific derealization/depersonalization, aggressive self-states, and flashbacks to past violence. Childhood emotional abuse/neglect predicted derealization/depersonalization, blackouts, and flashbacks. Childhood sexual abuse uniquely predicted amnesia. Other potential traumas did not predict dissociative IPV, suggesting dissociative IPV is influenced by trauma-based emotion dysregulation wherein childhood abuse/neglect survivors disconnect from their abusive behavior.

Testing the Generalizability of the Event Process Model of Family Violence With an Incarcerated Sample

“…In the current study, Pathway 2 participants infrequently reported experiencing ongoing FV victimization in their relationships with event victims, but consistently described extensive childhood histories of FV victimization. These accounts are consistent with a large body of research reporting an association between childhood FV victimization and dissociative experiences in adulthood (Vonderlin et al, 2018), including more recent research findings that a large minority—22% to 36%—of FV perpetrators with histories of FV victimization have experienced dissociation while perpetrating FV (LaMotte & Murphy, 2017; Simoneti et al, 2000; Webermann & Murphy, 2019). Pathway 2 FVEs were also characterized by more severe physical FV than that described in Pathway 1.…”

“…As previously discussed, this suggestion is consistent with an emerging body of research exploring perpetrators’ dissociative experiences during a FVE. Along these lines, participants’ childhood experiences of FV victimization (described across all pathways) and of dissociative symptoms during the FVE (unique to Pathway 2) suggest that their involvement in FV perpetrator treatment programs should be guided by a trauma-informed approach (Webermann & Murphy, 2019).…”

Tobacco Use and Domestic Violence in Thailand: Matching Case-Control Study

“…Domestic violence is a social phenomenon with social conditions, culture and family conditions. 1 It is a factor that has determined and nourished the Thai society and other societies for a long time. 2 Moreover, there are several phenomena that reflected the increasing intensity and more complex daily violence resulting in difficulties to prevent and solved.…”

Pathways to Family Violence: Investigating Patterns in the Event Process of Family Violence Perpetrators

“…Given their common experiencing of dissociative symptoms during the FVE, and that three FVEs were precipitated by event victims' FV use, participants' victimization histories are an integral part of understanding Pathway 2 FVEs. This finding is supported by a growing body of research demonstrating that a minority of FV perpetrators with trauma histories experience dissociation while perpetrating FV (LaMotte & Murphy, 2017;Simoneti et al, 2000;Webermann & Murphy, 2019).…”