Intimate Partner Violence and Intimate Partner Homicide: Development of a Typology Based on Psychosocial...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Criminology
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant global issue with varied perpetrator profiles.
• Understanding psychological characteristics, like alexithymia, is crucial for IPV research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a typology of intimate partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner homicide (IPH) perpetrators.
• To classify perpetrators based on criminological, situational, and psychological traits.

Main Methods:

• Cluster analysis of data from 67 male perpetrators of IPV and/or homicide.
• Comparative analysis of four identified perpetrator profiles.

Main Results:

• Four profiles emerged: homicidal abandoned (19.4%), angry/aggressive (23.9%), controlling violent (34.3%), and unstable dependent (22.4%).
• Homicidal abandoned partners often experienced relationship breakups and had self-destructive behaviors.
• Angry/aggressive perpetrators showed alexithymia and criminal history; controlling violent perpetrators had criminal lifestyles and committed IPH.
• Unstable dependent perpetrators had IPV without homicide, alexithymia, and no criminal history.

Conclusions:

• A nuanced understanding of perpetrator profiles, including psychological factors like alexithymia, is essential for effective IPV prevention.
• Typologies can inform tailored interventions for different perpetrator groups to reduce intimate partner violence and homicide.