Anger disturbances among perpetrators of intimate partner violence: clinical characteristics and outcomes of court-mandated treatment.
In the present study, the authors clustered a pretreatment sample of 190 perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) mandated to attend group counseling based on State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scores and examined whether these profiles were associated with differential outcomes 1 year postadjudication. Cluster analysis revealed 3 groups: (a) high anger-expressive (HA-E, n = 56), (b) moderate anger-inexpressive (MA-IE; n = 13), and (c) low anger (LA; n = 118). HA-E men perpetrated more IPV, reported experiencing and witnessing more abuse during childhood, scored higher on psychopathology measures, and reported more substance problems. HA-E and MA-IE males had higher program attrition and rearrest rates; MA-IE males were more likely to be arrested for assault-related offenses. Thus, although the majority of partner-abusive men do not present with anger-related disturbances, the presence of anger problems may be a marker for an array of traits that may complicate the treatment process.
Eckhardt
Christopher I
CI
Department of Psychological Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. eckhardt@psych.purdue.edu
Samper
Rita E
RE
Murphy
Christopher M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation*