Citation

Caldwell JE, Swan SC, Allen CT, Sullivan TP, Snow DL. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2009; 18(7): 672-697.

Affiliation

University of South Carolina.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10926770903231783

PMID

21072136

PMCID

PMC2975361

Abstract

This study examines motives for intimate partner violence (IPV) among a community sample of 412 women who used IPV against male partners. A "Motives and Reasons for IPV scale" is proposed, and exploratory factor analyses identified five factors: expression of negative emotions, self-defense, control, jealousy, and tough guise. To our knowledge, the study is the first to investigate the relationship between women's motives for IPV and their perpetration of physical, psychological, and sexual aggression, as well as coercive control, toward partners. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed participants' aggression was driven by complex, multiple motives. All five motives were related to a greater frequency of perpetrating IPV. Treatment programs focusing on women's IPV perpetration should address both defensive and proactive motives.

Language: en