Skip to main content
Log in

Psychosocial characteristics of batterers: A study of 234 men charged with domestic violence offenses

  • Published:
Journal of Family Violence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper analyzes the characteristics of 234 women abusers who came in contact with the Marion county prosecutor's office and municipal court in Indianapolis during the period from July 1984 to April 1985. The study examines the relationship between battering and such variables as age, race, alcohol, and/or drug abuse, the assailant's relationship to the battered women, criminal history, and employment status. A profile of the psychosocial characteristics of batterers and the implications for assessment and court-mandated treatment are also presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Apleton, W. (1980). The battered woman syndrome.Ann. Emerg. Med. 9: 84–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, B. E. (1977). Battered women and their assailants.Social Work 22: 455–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, K. H. (1980). Conjugal violence: What 33 men report.J. Marit. Family Ther. 207–213.

  • Davidson, T. (1978).Conjugal Crime, Hawthorne Books, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edleson, J. L. (1984). Working with men who batter.Social Work 29: 237–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edleson, J. L., Miller, D. M., Stone, G. W., and Chapman, D. G. (1985). Group treatment for men who batter.Social Work Res. Abstr. 21: 18–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, S. E., and Micklow, P. L. (1977). The assaulted wife: Catch 22 revisited.Women's Rights Law Reporter, Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, N.J., pp. 3, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagan, J. A., Stewart, D. K., and Hansen, K. V. (1983). Violent men or violent husbands. In David Finkelhor, R. J. Gelles, G. T. Hotaling, and M. Straus (eds.),The Dark side of Familes: Current Family Violence Research, Sage, Beverly Hills, Calif, pp. 46–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, P. B., and Houghton, B. D. (1982).Confronting the Batterer: A Guide to Creating the Spouse Abuse Educational Workshop, Volunteer Counseling Service of Rockland County, Inc., New City, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganley, A. L. (1981).Court-Mandated Counseling for Men Who Batter: A Three-Day Workshop for Mental Health Professionals, Center for Women Policy Studies, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelles, R. J. (1972).The Violent Home, Sage, Beverly Hills, Calif.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grambs, M. (1977). Wife-beating as an American pastime.Behavior Today 5–6.

  • Kempe, H. C.et al. (1962). The battered child syndrome.J. Am. Medical Assoc. 181: 17–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockhart, L. L. (1984).A Comparative Analysis of the Nature and Extent of Spouse Abuse, Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Flo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louis Harris & Associates (1979).A Survey of Spousal Violence Against Women in Kentucky, Study No. 792701, Louis Harris & Associates, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayers, J. K.et al. (1984). Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 41: 959–970.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Powers, R. J., and Kutash, I. L. (1978). Substance-induced aggression. In Irwin L. Kutash, S. B. Kutash, and L. B. Schlesinger (eds.),Violence: Perspectives on Murder and Aggression Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, Calif., pp. 317–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prescott, S., and Letko, C. (1977). Battered women: A social psychological perspective. In Maria, Roy (ed.),Battered Woman: A Psychosociological Study of Domestic Violence, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp. 72–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, A. R. (ed.) (1984).Battered Women and Their Families, Springer, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, A., and O'Leary, K. D. (1981). Marital violence: Characteristics of abusive couples.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 49: 63–71.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roy, M. (ed.), (1982).The Abusive Partner, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonkin, D. J., and Durphy, M. (1982).Learning to Live Without Violence, Volcano Press, San Francisco, Calif.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spinetta, J., and Rigler, D. (1972). The child abusing parent: A psychological review.Psychological Bull. 77: 296–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. (1979). Measuring intra-family conflict and violence: The conflict tactics (CT) scales.J. Marriage Family 41: 75–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. A., Gelles, R. J., and Steinmetz, S. K. (1980).Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family, Anchor Press/Doubleday, Garden City, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, L. E. (1979).The Battered Woman, Harper and Row, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, L. E. (1984).The Battered Woman Syndrome, Springer, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roberts, A.R. Psychosocial characteristics of batterers: A study of 234 men charged with domestic violence offenses. J Fam Viol 2, 81–93 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00976372

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00976372

Key words

Navigation