Empathy Mediates the Relations between Working Memory and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence and Aggression

Abstract

Deficits in executive functioning have been associated with aggressive and violent behavior toward intimate partners. However, it is unclear what specific mechanisms are being affected by cognitive deficits that increase an individual’s tendency to become aggressive. The current study examined empathy as a mediating factor between deficits in working memory and perpetration of intimate partner aggression and violence. Men in heterosexual relationships (N = 49) were administered a measure of visual-spatial working memory, and questionnaire measures of head injury and empathy. During a second session, men participated in a conflict discussion with their female partner that was coded for aggressive behavior. Female partners also reported on men’s physical and psychological abuse. Working memory was positively related to cognitive and affective empathy, and negatively related to men’s physical abuse perpetration and observed aggression during the conflict discussion. The effects of working memory on observed aggression during the conflict were fully mediated by cognitive and affective empathy. Additionally, the effects of working memory on reported physical IPV frequency were fully mediated by affective empathy. Deficits in working memory may decrease men’s ability to use empathetic processes, resulting in increased aggression and violence toward their intimate partners. Clinically, incorporating empathy training in battering intervention programs may be helpful, especially among men with deficits in cognitive functioning.

Neurocognitive performance predicts future partner violence among U.S. Iraq- and Afghanistan-deployed army soldiers and veterans.

“…In particular, relative weaknesses in certain aspects of executive functioning (Horne et al, 2020; Humenik et al, 2020; Pinto et al, 2010), learning and memory (e.g., Cohen et al, 1999; Vitoria-Estruch et al, 2018), and verbal ability (Cohen et al, 2003; Westby & Ferraro, 1999) are thought to confer risk of IPV. For example, poorer working memory (an aspect of executive functioning) was associated with observed aggression during experimental conflict discussions among couples (Godfrey et al, 2020). Similarly, difficulties with other executive functions, such as inhibition, may further reduce capacity to manage aggressive behavioral urges and to effectively control response tendencies during conflict (Corvo, 2014).…”

Cognitive flexibility as a protective factor for empathy

“…Second, most previous studies have defined cognitive flexibility and empathy from a single perspective. For example, studies define cognitive flexibility only at the cognitive level and empathy as a stable personality trait ( Aliakbari et al, 2013 ; Godfrey et al, 2020 ), which ignores cognitive flexibility at the individual level and state empathy influenced by specific situations. In addition, cognitive flexibility tasks used by previous research rarely involve specific mental processes that produce empathy.…”

Dropout and recidivism are partly explained by emotional decoding and perspective taking deficits of intimate partner violence perpetrators

“…Regarding accuracy deficits when recognizing facial expressions (emotional decoding abilities) and empathy in IPV perpetrators, several studies concluded that IPV perpetrators tend to score lower in emotional decoding abilities and perspective taking than nonviolent men (Babcock et al, 2008; Nyline et al, 2018; Romero‐Martínez et al, 2016), highlighting that low perspective taking abilities facilitate IPV proneness (Covell et al, 2007; Dodaj et al, 2020; Godfrey et al, 2020; Lafontaine et al, 2018). Furthermore, the higher the personal distress (self‐oriented emotions of anxiety and discomfort facing another's distress) in IPV perpetrators, the higher the risk of IPV perpetration (Covell et al, 2007; Nyline et al, 2018; Romero‐Martínez, Lila, Sariñana‐González et al, 2013).…”

“…Nonetheless, it seems that IPV perpetrators did not differ from nonviolent men in empathic concern (Nyline et al, 2018; Romero‐Martínez, Lila, Sariñana‐González et al, 2013), although this empathy variable was important among IPV perpetrators. Specifically, IPV perpetrators who presented the best empathic concern abilities reported the lowest levels of IPV perpetration (Godfrey et al, 2020).…”