The Role of Control in Intimate Partner Violence: A Study in Dutch Forensic Outpatients

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Criminology
• Domestic Violence Research

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) exhibits significant heterogeneity.
• Johnson's theory posits coercive control as a key explanatory factor for IPV variations.
• Coercive control may influence frequency, reciprocity, and gender dynamics in IPV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between nonaggressive coercive control and intimate partner violence.
• To examine the relationship between coercive control and specific forms of IPV.
• To evaluate the utility of coercive control in intimate partner violence risk assessment.

Main Methods:

• Study population: 280 Dutch forensic outpatients reporting recent intimate partner violence.
• Data collection focused on nonaggressive coercive control behaviors.
• Statistical analysis assessed associations between control and violence characteristics.

Main Results:

• Coercive control showed significant, small to moderate associations with increased psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion in the past year.
• Controlling behaviors were linked to a higher frequency of partner injury.
• Control was not associated with the reciprocity of partner violence; high controlling violence was predominantly enacted by men, but not exclusively.

Conclusions:

• Findings provide partial support for the crucial role of coercive control in understanding intimate partner violence.
• Coercive control may be a valuable factor in intimate partner violence risk assessment.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between coercive control and IPV dynamics.