Assessing Intimate Partner Violence in a Control Balance Theory Framework.

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant social issue with complex underlying factors.
• Theoretical literature emphasizes the role of control in gender-based crimes, but empirical testing is limited.
• Existing theories often fail to account for individual perceptions of control and known risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically examine the role of control in the motivation for and development of intimate partner violence (IPV).
• To test theoretical assumptions about control in gender-based crimes using Tittle's control balance theory.
• To investigate individualized explanations for IPV by incorporating perceptions of control.

Main Methods:

• A college student sample (N = 401) was surveyed online to capture self-reported IPV victimization and perpetration.
• Tittle's control balance theory was used to conceptualize and measure control deficits.
• Segmented nonlinear regression models were employed to analyze sex differences and associations with control deficits.

Main Results:

• No significant sex differences were found in control continuums.
• Significant associations were identified between control deficits and female victimization and perpetration of IPV.
• Significant associations were found between control deficits and male perpetration of IPV.

Conclusions:

• Control deficits are a key factor in intimate partner violence (IPV).
• Findings support the theoretical importance of control in understanding IPV.
• Interventions for IPV should consider control deficits, particularly for socially marginalized groups like the LGBT community.