Citation

Thomas PA, Hart KJ. Psychol. Men Masc. 2022; 24(1): 34-46.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/men0000406

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Evidence is accumulating that men frequently experience and are harmed by intimate partner violence (IPV), although this form of IPV has only recently been studied. Recent studies suggest that social stereotypes may negatively influence men's help-seeking and outcomes following IPV. We assessed the third-party perception of a man versus a women who experienced physical and psychological IPV. Using video vignettes of psychological/physical IPV that varied only in the gender of the perpetrator and victim, 168 participants recruited from an online survey platform and a Midwestern private university were randomly assigned to view an interaction depicting either a man or woman IPV victim. Participants rated their emotional response immediately after watching the vignette, followed by perceptions of the IPV victim and perpetrator. Participants reported less negative affect after viewing IPV perpetrated against a man versus against a woman, and male IPV victims were rated as deserving of less sympathy, less in need of medical, psychological, and legal help, and less successful, powerful, and socially desirable than female IPV victims. Post hoc analyses regarding perpetrator criminality and identification of the IPV victim using the "victim" label also differed by IPV victim gender. Our findings suggest that preconceived notions based on gender roles impede the identification of men as victims and likely influence their treatment by friends, medical and mental health care providers, and legal authorities. Further research is needed to inform the unique interpersonal and intrapersonal stereotyping that may explain men's help-seeking and outcomes in IPV victimization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Impact Statement

The present study draws attention to the ways that men who are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) are viewed by others, which provides additional information about the unique experiences of these men. Compared to women who are victimized in the same manner, the male victim portrayed in this study faced interpersonal and internalized stigma, reduced sympathy, shame, and other judgments that are likely to significantly reduce men's help-seeking, willingness to apply the "victim" label, and other important outcomes in IPV victimization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en