Male abusiveness in intimate relationships

Existing theories of wife assault (psychiatric, sociological, sociobiological, and social learning) fail in a variety of ways to explain the empirical data generated by research in the last two decades. A new theory is proposed to account for individual differences in the tendency to be assaultive in intimate relationships. The focus of this theory is on men whose abuse is proactive, repetitive, and specific to intimate relationships. It appears to accompany cyclical mood swings. This group appears to comprise about 40% of all men who present for treatment for wife assault. For these men, abusiveness is triggered by their internal mood states rather than by external events. Several studies are cited which indicate that intimate attachment generates rage in wife assaulters. The origins of this attachment-rage are traced to early development. This template generates a complex of perceptions (attributions and projections) and behaviors (abusiveness) specific to intimate relationships. Such males are shaped differentially from other males by a patriarchal culture that provides justifications for their abuse of women in intimate relationships.