Why Do Women Use Intimate Partner Violence? A Systematic Review of Women’s Motivations

Abstract

Studies report that women use as much or more physical intimate partner violence (IPV) as men. Most of these studies measure IPV by counting the number of IPV acts over a specified time period, but counting acts captures only one aspect of this complex phenomenon. To inform interventions, women’s motivations for using IPV must be understood. A systematic review therefore was conducted to summarize evidence regarding women’s motivations for the use of physical IPV in heterosexual relationships. Four published literature databases were searched, and. articles that met inclusion criteria were abstracted. This was supplemented with a bibliography search and expert consultation. Eligible studies included English-language publications that directly investigated heterosexual women’s motivations for perpetrating non-lethal, physical IPV. Of the 144 potentially eligible articles, 23 met inclusion criteria. Over two-thirds of studies enrolled participants from IPV shelters, courts, or batterers’ treatment programs. Women’s motivations were primarily assessed through interviews or administration of an author-created questionnaire. Anger and not being able to get a partner’s attention were pervasive themes. Self-defense and retaliation also were commonly cited motivations, but distinguishing the two was difficult in some studies. Control was mentioned, but not listed as a primary motivation. IPV prevention and treatment programs should explore ways to effectively address women’s relationship concerns and ability to manage anger, and should recognize that women commonly use IPV in response to their partner’s violence.

Prevalência de violência física entre parceiros íntimos nos primeiros seis meses após o parto no Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…Another question deserving debate is the fact that the women were more perpetrators than victims of physical abuse, consistent with the literature 33,35,36,37,38 . A previous study addressing prevalence of violence during pregnancy in the city of Rio de Janeiro had also called attention to the reciprocity of violence within the couple 39 .…”

Targeting Escalation and Harm in Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Northern Territory Police, Australia

“…It has been argued (Straus 2010;Bair-Merritt et al 2010) that women's motivations for offending are qualitatively different from men's in that women will often perpetrate Fig. 6 Ratio of CHI to dyad appearances IPV either in self-defence or in retaliation for IPV being perpetrated on them.…”

A literature review of intimate partner violence and its classifications

“…However, it is also established that women are much more likely to be injured and injured severely than men (Archer, 2000;Swan & Snow, 2002. Researchers have attempted to explore, contextualize, and examine the motivations for, and impact of, IPV, especially in response to the higher arrest rate of women in the U.S. as a result of changes in the mandatory arrest laws (Babcock, Miller, & Siard, 2003;Bair-Merritt et al, 2010;Hines & Douglas, 2010;Miller & Meloy, 2006;Swan & Snow, 2002 have argued that men and women have similar motivations such as anger and a desire to resolve disagreements (Straus, 2005), or a desire to exert power and control (Rosen, Stith, Few, Daly, & Tritt, 2005;Seamans, Rubin, & Stabb, 2007). However, feminist researchers believe that women use violence as a mean of self-defense, and in response to the abuse, protection of children and retaliation (Dasgupta, 2002;Dobash & Dobash, 2004;Swan & Snow, 2006).…”