Abstract
Female perpetrated intimate partner violence has commonly been treated, both legally and clinically, similarly to male perpetrated violence. However, there is little empirical research of the gender differences in treatment needs or the applicability of classic models of batterer intervention for women. This study examines the applicability of one theory that has commonly been used to guide treatment of male perpetrators, the theory of planned behavior. R. M. Tolman, J. L. Edleson, and M. Fendrich (1996) found the components of this theory to be moderately predictive of abusive behavior among males. In a survey of 114 male and female participants in batterer intervention counseling in Los Angeles County, the current study confirmed that the model predicted male behaviors but found the model did not apply to female violent behavior.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, D. (1989). Feminist-based interventions for battering men. In P. L. Caesar & L. K. Hamberger (Eds.), Treating men who batter: Theory, practice, and programs. New York: Springer.
Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhland & J. Becman (Eds.), Action-control: From cognitions to behavior (pp. 11–39). Heidelberg: Springer.
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1970). The prediction of behavior from attitudinal and normative variables. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 6, 466–487.
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1977). Attitude-behavior relations: A theoretical analysis and review of empirical research. Psychological Bulletin, 84(5), 888–918.
Austin, J., & Dankwort, J. (1998). A review of standards for batterer intervention programs. National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women. Available: http://www.vaw.umn.edu/documents/vawnet/standard/standard.html
Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Barnett, O. W., Lee, C. Y., & Thelen, R.E. (1997). Gender differences in attributions of self-defense and control in interpersonal aggression. Violence Against Women, 3, 462–481.
Bograd, M. (1999). Strengthening domestic violence theories: Intersections of race, class, sexual orientation, and gender. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 25(3), 275–289.
Bryant, N. (1994). Domestic violence and group treatment for male batterers. Group, 18(4), 235–242.
Bryan, A., Ruiz, M. S., & O’Neill, D. (2003). HIV-related behaviors among prison inmates: A theory of planned behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 33(12), 2565–2586.
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1995). Violence against women: Estimates from the redesigned survey.
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1997). Violence-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments.
Burke, L. K., & Follingstad, D. R. (1999). Violence in lesbian and gay relationships: Theory, prevalence, and correlational factors. Clinical Psychology Review, 19(5), 487–512.
Cantos, A. L., Neidig, P. H., & O’Leary, K. D. (1993). Men and women’s attributions of blame for domestic violence. Journal of Family Violence, 8(4), 289–302.
Dowd, L. (2001). Female perpetrators of partner aggression: Relevant issues and treatment. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 5, 73–104.
Dunlany, D. E. (1967). Awareness, rules, and propositional control: A confrontation with S-R behavior theory. In D. Horton & T. Nixon (Eds.), Verbal behavior and S-R behavior theory. Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Edleson, J., & Syers, M. (1991). The effects of groups treatment for men who batter: An 18-month follow-up study. Research on Social Work Practice, 1(3), 227–243.
Ghez, M. (2001). Getting the message out: Using media to change social norms on abuse. In C. M. Renzetti & J. L. Edleson (Eds.), Sourcebook on violence against women. Thousand Oaks, CA: USC.
Gondolf, E. W. (1987). Evaluating programs for men who batter: Problems and prospects. Journal of Family Violence, 2(2), 95–108.
Gortner, E. T., Gollan, J. K., & Jacobson, N. S. (1997). Psychological aspects of perpetrators of domestic violence and their relationships with the victims. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20(2), 337–350.
Hamberger, L. K. (1997). Female offenders in intimate partner violence: A look at actions in their context. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 1, 117–130.
Hamberger, L. K., & Arnold, J. E. (1990). The impact of mandatory arrest on intimate partner violence perpetrator counseling services. Family Violence Bulletin, 6, 10–12.
Hamberger, L. K., & Guse, C. E., (2002). Men’s and women’s use of intimate partner violence in clinical samples. Violence Against Women, 8, 1301–1331.
Hamberger, L. K., Lohr, J. M., & Bonge, D. (1994). The intended function of intimate partner violence is different for arrested male and female perpetrators. Family Violence and Sexual Assault Bulletin, 10, 40–44.
Hamberger, L. K., & Potente, T. (1994). Counseling heterosexual women arrested for domestic violence: Implications for theory and practice. Violence and Victims, 9(2), 125–137.
Harrell, A. (1991). Evaluation of court-ordered treatment for domestic violence offenders: Summary and recommendations. Unpublished report prepared for the State Justice Institute.
Johnson, M. P. (2001). Conflict and control: Symmetry and asymmetry in intimate partner violence. In A. Booth & A. C. Crouter (Eds.), Couples in conflict. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Koonin, M., Cabarcas, A., & Geffner, R. (2001). Treatment of women arrested for domestic violence: Women ending abusive/violent episodes respectfully (WEAVER). San Diego, CA: Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute.
Klein, A. (2001). Female arrests–not dual arrests–the critical issue. National Bulletin on Intimate partner violence prevention, 7, 1–2.
Klein, A. (2002). Britain ends batterer counseling. National Bulletin on Domestic Violence Prevention, 8(2), 3.
Martin, M. E. (1994). Mandatory arrest for domestic violence: The courts’ response. Criminal Justice Review, 19(2), 212–227.
Molidor, C., & Tolman, R. (1998). Gender and contextual factors in adolescent dating violence. Violence Against Women, 4(2), 180–194.
Morse, B. (1995). Beyond the conflict tactics scale: Assessing gender differences in partner violence. Violence and Victims, 10(4), 251–270.
Nabi, R. L., Southwell, B., & Hornik, R. (2002). Predicting intentions versus predicting behaviors: Domestic violence prevention from a theory of reasoned action perspective. Health Communication, 14(4), 429–449.
Pate, A. M., & Hamilton E. E. (1992). Formal and informal deterrents to domestic violence—The Dade County spouse assault experiment. American Sociological Review, 57(5), 691–697.
Pence, E., & Paymar, M. (1993). Education groups for men who batter: The Duluth model. New York: Springer.
Pence, E., & Shepard, M. (1988). Integrating feminist theory and practice: The challenge of the battered women’s movement. In K. Yllö & M. Bograd (Eds.), Feminist perspectives on wife abuse. Thousand Oaks, CA: USC.
Pence, E., & Paymar, M. (1986). Power and control: Tactics of men who batter. Duluth, MN: Minnesota Program Development Inc.
Rotter, J. B. (1982). The Development and Application of Social Learning Theory: Selected Papers. New York, NY: Praeger Publishers.
Sakai, C. E. (1991). Group intervention strategies with domestic abusers. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 72(4), 536–542.
Saunders, D. G. (1991). Procedures for adjusting self-reports of violence for social desirability bias. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6(3), 336–344.
Smith, P. D. (2002). Female perpetrated domestic violence: Understanding attitudes, motivation and context. Dissertation Abstract International, 63, 2696.
Sheppard, B. H., Hartwick, J., & Warshaw, P. R. (1988). The theory of reasoned action: A meta-analysis of past research with recommendations for modifications and future research. Journal of Consumer Research, 15(3), 325–343.
Stalans, L. J., & Finn, M. A. (1995). How novice and experienced officers interpret wife assaults: Normative and efficiency frames. Law & Society Review, 29(2), 287–321.
Stark, E. (1993). Mandatory arrest of batterers: A reply to its critics. American Behavioral Scientist, 36(5), 651–680.
Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The revised conflict tactics scale (CTS2): Development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17(3), 283–316.
Swan, S. C., & Snow, D. L. (2002). A typology of women’s use of violence in intimate relationships. Violence Against Women, 8, 286–319.
Thomas, E. K. (2000). Domestic violence in the African-American and Asian-American communities: A comparative analysis of two racial/ethnic minority cultures and implications for mental health service provision for women of color. Psychology: A Journal of Human Behavior, 37(3–4), 32–43.
Tolman, R. M. (1999). The validation of the psychological maltreatment of women inventory. Violence and Victims, 14(1), 25–37.
Tolman, R. M., Edleson, J. L., & Fendrich, M. (1996). The applicability of the theory of planned behavior to abusive men’s cessation of violent behavior. Violence and Victims, 11(4), 341–354.
Tolman, R. M., & Weisz, A. (1995). Coordinated community intervention for domestic violence: The effects of arrest and prosecution on recidivism of woman abuse perpetrators. Crime & Delinquency, 41(4), 481–495.
Walker, L. E. (1995). Current perspectives on men who batter women—implications for intervention and treatment to stop violence against women: Comment on Gottman et al., Journal of Family Psychology, 9(3), 264–272.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kernsmith, P. Treating Perpetrators of Domestic Violence: Gender Differences in the Applicability of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Sex Roles 52, 757–770 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-4197-5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-4197-5