NCJ Number
175158
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1998 Pages: 217-230
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study extends previous research on clusters of abusive men by further exploring associated features of abusiveness, including attachment style, in clusters of impulsive and instrumental batterers.
Abstract
Previous research on subtypes of batterers has shown at least two distinct types of batterers. One group (Type 1) demonstrates suppressed physiological responding during conflicts with their wives, tends to use violence in nonintimate relationships, and manifests Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-II) scale elevations on the Antisocial and Aggressive- Sadistic scales. The second group (Type 2) manifests violence in the intimate relationship only and reports dysphoria. The current study extends knowledge of these two groups by using a cluster analysis to assess personality disorder and relates the results to each group's attachment style, anger, trauma scores, and scores on a self-report of Borderline Personality Organization (BPO). The study included a control group, so abusive men could be compared to nonabusive men. An instrumental group (Type 1) showed an Antisocial-Narcissistic-Aggressive profile on the MCMI- II and reported more severe physical violence. An impulsive group (Type 2) showed a mixed profile on the MCMI-II with Passive- Aggressive, Borderline, and Avoidant elevations, high scores on a self-report BPO, higher chronic anger, and Fearful attachment. Both types of abusive men reported a Preoccupied attachment style, but only the Impulsive men reported an accompanying Fearful attachment style. 3 tables and 43 references