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A number of studies have described typologies of domestically violent men. Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart (1994) recently proposed a theoretical model for predicting violence severity and generality from personality “type.” The present study, using data from 833 identified abusive men, tested the model. Personality types were determined from cluster analysis of data from the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, and resulted in a three-cluster solution consistent with the Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart model. The three main clusters included nonpathological, antisocial, and passive aggressive-dependent groups. Three other, smaller types were also identified. Multivariate and chi-square analyses comparing the main clusters on other variables generally supported the Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart model. Nonpathological men had the lowest maximum violence and frequency. They restricted their violence primarily to intimate relationships and had the fewest police contacts. Antisocial and passive aggressive-dependent men did not differ in maximum violence, but antisocial men were the most generally violent and had the most police contacts. Passive aggressive-dependent men had the highest frequency of violence. Clinical, theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.

National survey research suggests that males and females are equally likely to perpetrate domestic violence, but surveys have not examined the interpersonal context or motivation for domestic violence. The questioning of identified partner assaulters suggests that females use violence for self-defense and escape, whereas males use violence to exercise control, punish, or demand attention. The perception of perpetrator violence, however, appears also to be a function of the gender of the individual appraising the violence. Six male and 6 female adult nonperpetrators sorted into categories the stated motivations for domestic violence of 215 male and 66 female court-referred perpetrators. Factor analysis revealed (a) motivations common to all: control, anger expression, and coercive communication; (b) motivations specific to gender of perpetrator: retaliation, self-defense, escape, and punishment; and (c) motivations specific to gender of perpetrator and sorter: alcohol use and response to verbal abuse.

Clinical samples of child sexual abuse survivors report a variety of psychiatric symptoms and interpersonal difficulties. The treatment outcome literature for this population is often incomplete due to numerous methodological constraints. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an open trial of individual short-term, psychodynamic psychotherapy with a naturalistic sample of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Sexual abuse survivors demonstrated significant improvement in symptomatic distress, level of functioning and dynamic personality variables according to selfreport measures and clinical rating scales. Abuse survivors developed positive therapeutic alliances, which remained high throughout the course of treatment, and comparable to the non-abused clinical sample. Sexual abuse survivors' response to treatment was similar to that of non-abused patients, with the potential for greater change in feelings about the self. These findings demonstrate that psychodynamic psychotherapy may be useful for childhood sexual abuse survivors presenting with depressive symptoms and interpersonal difficulties.

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