Perceptions of motives in intimate partner violence: expressive versus coercive violence.
This study examined perceptions of motives in the perpetration of intimate partner violence. Respondents (N = 401) of diverse professions read three vignettes and indicated their perception of the aggressor's motive (from 1 = Exclusively Expressive; 5 = Exclusively Coercive). Half of respondents read vignettes describing male-perpetrated violence against a female partner; the other half, female-perpetrated violence against a male partner. Overall, male-perpetrated aggression was seen as more coercive than female-perpetrated aggression, particularly by shelter workers and victim advocates. Further analyses revealed that men generally gave higher ratings than women, and that women rated female-perpetrated aggression as less coercive than male-perpetrated aggression. In contrast, men did not differ in their ratings of male versus female perpetration. Implications are discussed with respect to the assessment and treatment of partner violence.
Hamel
John
J
johnmhamel@comcast.net
Desmarais
Sarah L
SL
Nicholls
Tonia L
TL
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D003068:Coercion; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012737:Sex Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires