Exploring the Overlap Between Offending and Victimization Within Intimate Partner Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Over the past five decades two parallel bodies of literature have emerged; one examines intimate partner violence (IPV), the other examines the overlap between victimization and offending. Until recently, these two bodies of literature had yet to intersect. The current study provides an exploratory investigation into the overlap between victimization and offending within IPV with a Bosnian adult sample. Utilizing self-report data, 200 Bosnian adults were classified into one of four distinct groups: nonviolent (no history of IPV victimization and/or IPV perpetration), victims (history of IPV victimization only), offenders (history of IPV perpetration only), and victim-offenders (history of IPV victimization and IPV perpetration). Over half of the sample (54%) indicated no prior experiences with IPV within their intimate relationships (current or past). For individuals who characterized their intimate relationships as volatile, analyses indicated that more individuals were involved in mutually violent (having experienced both victimization and perpetration) relationships than solely exclusive behaviors (having experienced only victimization or engaged in perpetration but not both). Moreover, a series of bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed important demographic and behavioral differences between the groupings. Policy implications, as well as suggestions for future research, are presented.

Victim Precipitation

“…As such, our victim-offender category included only victims with criminal histories; suspects with victimization histories were excluded. Prior research indicates, however, that like victims, offenders are also a heterogeneous group and that differentiation by offending and victimization experiences is an important consideration within the victim-offender overlap (Muftić & Deljkić, 2012; Reingle & Maldonado-Molina, 2012). Future, more robust examinations of the victim-offender overlap within victim precipitated homicides would benefit from the inclusion of offender victimization histories.…”

“… 1. Less attention has been directed at victimization histories and their impact on offending within the victim-offender overlap literature. For exceptions to this, see Heyman & Smith Slep, 2002; Jennings et al, 2011; Loeber et al, 2005; Muftić & Deljkić, 2012; Reingle & Maldonado-Molina, 2012; Silver et al, 2011. …”

Cross-Cultural and International Investigations of the Victim–Offender Overlap

“…In the final article in the special issue, Muftić and Deljkić (2012), similar to Jennings et al’s article, present an investigation of the overlap between IPV perpetration and victimization. Relying on self-report data from 200 Bosnian adults, Muftić and Deljkić classified the persons into four distinct groups: nonviolent (no history of IPV victimization and/or IPV perpetration), victims (history of IPV victimization only), offenders (history of IPV perpetration only), and victim–offenders (history of IPV victimization and IPV perpetration).…”

“…The six high quality manuscripts included in this special issue can be categorized into three main areas: cross-cultural (non-White samples; Higgins et al, 2012; Reingle & Maldonado-Molina, 2012), cross-cultural/international (native-U.S. and foreign-born samples; Jennings et al, 2012; Ventura Miller, 2012), and international (non-U.S.-based studies; Heber, 2012; Muftić & Deljkić, 2012). In the lead article in the special issue, Higgins et al provide an examination of the link between bullying victimization and trajectories of delinquent offending.…”

“…The remaining two articles in the special issue provide explorations into the association between victimization and offending in the countries of Sweden (Heber, 2012) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (Muftić & Deljkić, 2012). Heber’s study draws on data from semistructured interviews with a sample of male Swedish probationers focusing on a myriad of topics that include: the subjects’ direct experiences of violence victimization and perpetration, court cases, sanctions, time in prison, and the time following prison.…”