title: Using complexity science to examine three dynamic patterns of intimate partner violence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The partner violence literature describes 3 dominant models of dynamics of partner aggression: cycle of violence, family systems theory, and Duluth model (power and control wheel). Complexity science describes 3 patterns of system dynamics: periodic, chaotic, and random. Are these parallel patterns? In this analysis, investigators calculated dynamic patterns (periodic, chaotic, and random) using 84 daily reports of male-to-female aggression and assessed the "fit" between time-series-derived patterns of male partners' violent behaviors and literature-based models of violence dynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 200 women in moderately violent intimate relationships who completed a telephone survey about their relationships every day for 12 weeks. They also completed baseline and end-of-study surveys and maintained telephone contact with the study team weekly. Of 200 participants, 135 women provided enough data to be assigned to period, chaotic, or random groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group membership included 16 women in periodic, 40 in chaotic, and 79 in random groups. Consistent with the cycle of violence, periodic women found violence to be predictable and controllable. Consistent with the Duluth model, women in the random group found violence to be unpredictable and out of their control, occurring with high frequency. The chaotic group had the lowest frequency and severity of violence, lowest stress and arguments, and the highest marital satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common dynamic pattern in partner violence is random, which exhibits high frequency and unpredictability of aggression. Complexity science suggests interventions in random systems have unpredictable outcomes, posing great challenges for clinicians who work with victims of violence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Sandra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Burge
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Katerndahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becho
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.affiliation: South Texas Veterans Health Care System.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talamantes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors