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Batterers, Personality Characteristics of

Men who batter exhibit a variety of personality characteristics, and there is no single personality profile of the batterer. However, their personality characteristics tend to cluster into some distinct groups. This entry discusses these personality clusters and groups, the prevalence of personality disorders in men who batter, risk assessment of and interventions for men who batter, and the controversy surrounding these personality characteristic findings.

Personality Clusters and Groups

Early studies found three personality clusters: (1) schizoidal/borderline, (2) narcissistic/antisocial, and (3) dependent/compulsive. More sophisticated studies that included measures of behaviors, beliefs, and physiological responses, along with personality, found that abusers could be placed into three major groups: (1) family only: those with no significant personality problems who tend to be violent only at home; these men seem to be conformists who have difficulty communicating assertively and dealing with stressful situations, and they seem to suppress their emotions more than do other abusers; (2) antisocial: those with strong antisocial traits who have a history of severe behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence and abuse of alcohol and other drugs; they tend to be violent inside and outside of the home, and they justify their violence and are adept at tactics of intimidation; and (3) borderline/dysphoric: those with borderline traits, who are emotionally “volatile,” and exhibit depression and suicidal tendencies; they are the most psychologically abusive, and they have the most difficulty separating from their partners and may stalk and harass them after separation. The above differences in personality traits appear to be linked to distinct types of childhood traumas. The studies found that while the antisocial type was likely to have suffered severe physical abuse at the hands of one or both parents, the borderline type was likely to have experienced loss, rejection, and humiliation.

Research on general personality dimensions supports distinctions between “impulsive” and “instrumental” violence. Impulsive violence appears to fulfill an emotional need, such as in the borderline abuser, whereas instrumental violence is more calculated and aimed at obtaining one's way, as in the antisocial abuser. Both the borderline and antisocial abuser appear “underinhibited,” in contrast to the family-only type, who appears to be “overinhibited.” Some research has investigated physiological responses in the midst of couples' conflicts and linked them to personality types. One study found a decrease in physiological arousal among antisocial men during conflict, even when they seemed very angry. This implied that they knew how to appear intimidating and became more relaxed when their control was working. However, this study has not been replicated. Among the recent trends in research is the exploration of psychopathy, generally considered a more severe subtype of antisocial personality disorder. Psychopathic men seem to have little or no empathy for others and there is evidence that they are the most likely to reas-sault, even after completing treatment. This research may help in identifying an abuser type who would not benefit at all from treatment and instead may require prolonged incarceration.

Prevalence

Some studies find that the majority of men who batter have personality disorders, but prevalence rates can vary as a function of the measures and definitions being used. Some researchers suspect that the self-report nature of many personality measures leads to inflated rates. Studies rarely use more reliable, comprehensive clinical assessments that include structured clinical interviews and reports from significant others. It should be noted that personality disorders are distinct from mental disorders. There is general agreement that men who batter do not have severe mental disorders, in particular mental disorders with an organic origin such as bipolar disorder. Courts do not recognize personality disorders as factors in criminal proceedings, whereas certain mental disorder symptoms may play a role in an offender's ability to distinguish right from wrong and to understand court proceedings.

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