Related Experiment Videos
Testing the Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart (1994) batterer typology
A Holtzworth-Munroe1, J C Meehan, K Herron
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405-7007, USA. holtzwor@indiana.edu
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|January 6, 2001
Summary
Researchers identified four distinct clusters of maritally violent men, three aligning with proposed subtypes: family-only (FO), borderline-dysphoric (BD), and generally violent-antisocial (GVA). These groups differed in violence correlates and psychopathology.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- Marital violence is a complex phenomenon with varying underlying factors.
- Previous research proposed subtypes of maritally violent men, but empirical validation was needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically identify subtypes of maritally violent men based on proposed dimensions.
- To examine the correlates of violence across identified subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 102 maritally violent men and their wives, plus two nonviolent comparison groups.
- Utilized cluster analysis to identify subtypes based on violence severity, generality, and psychopathology.
Main Results:
- Identified four clusters: family-only (FO), borderline-dysphoric (BD), generally violent-antisocial (GVA), and a low-level antisocial group.
- FO men resembled nonviolent groups. BD men showed high dependency and jealousy. GVA men exhibited substance abuse, criminal behavior, impulsivity, and hostility.
- The low-level antisocial cluster fell between FO and GVA on key measures.
Conclusions:
- Empirical data support the existence of distinct subtypes of maritally violent men.
- Understanding these subtypes is crucial for targeted interventions and treatment approaches for domestic violence.