Distinguishing Among Types of Domestic Violence

Michael P. Johnson, Ph.D.Sociology, Women's Studies, and African and African American StudiesPenn State

Photos from Donna Ferrato, Living with the Enemy. New York: Aperture, 1991

McKeesport, PA

Second International Conference on Violence

Against Women

CRI-VIFFMontréal, Québec

May 30, 2011

Are Women Really as Violent as Men? Anti-feminist politics and conflicting data Explaining the ostensible contradictions

A Control-based Typology of Partner Violence The three major types Gender differences and sampling biases

Dramatic Differences Among the Types Violence severity, frequency, mutuality, and escalation A few health and relationship consequences Different risk factors for perpetration

Policy Implications

The Anti-feminist BacklashDeny the Role of GenderAttack Feminist Research

Attack Programs that Address Violence against Women

“Men as likely to suffer spousal abuse, Statscan says.” Globe and Mail July 27, 2002 (Web site)

“Feminist ideologues ignore research that shows domestic violence is just as often started by women as by men.” Pittsburgh Post Gazette July 26, 2009

“…the Ontario Government may be in violation of their obligations… [because] the existing network of shelters for victims of family violence exclude[s] men….” The Men’s Project, February 2009: Submission to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Heterosexual intimate partner violence by gender

Data Source Men Women

Canada, GSS, 2009 51% 49%New Zealand, young adults, 2002 39% 61%U.S., NSFH, 1988 53% 47%U.S., NFVS, 1975—the beginning 51% 49%

General Surveys Indicate That Women Are as Violent as Men

But Agency Studies Indicate ThatMen Are the Batterers

Heterosexual intimate partner violence

by genderData Source Men WomenCanada, Spousal Homicide, 1995-2005 82% 18%U.S., FBI, Partner Assault,1996-2001 75% 25%U.K., Emergency Rooms, 1988 83% 17%Santa Barbara, CA, Police, 1983 94% 6%Ontario, Family Court, 1982 94% 6%Cleveland, Divorce Court, 1966 92% 8%

Differentiating Among Types of Intimate Partner Violence

Explains the Contradictions There is more than one type of partner violence

One type is perpetrated mostly by men, another by both men and women

Agency studies are dominated by the male-perpetrated type, general surveys by the gender-symmetric type

Are Women Really as Violent as Men? Anti-feminist politics and conflicting data Explaining the ostensible contradictions

A Control-based Typology of Partner Violence The three major types Gender differences and sampling biases

Dramatic Differences Among the Types Violence severity, frequency, mutuality, and escalation A few health and relationship consequences Different risk factors for perpetration

Policy Implications

Intimate TerrorismViolent Coercive Control

Violent ResistanceResisting the Intimate Terrorist

Situational Couple ViolenceSituationally-provoked Violence

Intimate Terrorism/Domestic Violence

Adapted from Pence & Paymar, 1993.

Intimate TerrorismViolent Coercive Control

Pattern of violent coercive control The basic pattern is the use of multiple control

tactics (violent and non-violent) to attempt to take general control over one’s partner

Specific control tactics vary from case to case, involving different combinations of economic control, isolation, emotional abuse, intimidation, use of children, and other control tactics

In heterosexual relationships, perpetrated primarily but not exclusively by men

Generally rare, but common in agency settings

Violent ResistanceResisting the Intimate Terrorist

Many victims respond with violence

Not necessarily self-defense

In heterosexual relationships, most violent resistors desist and turn to other tactics to mitigate the violence or to escape

Situational Couple ViolenceSituationally-provoked Violence

Conflicts turn into arguments that escalate Both men and women do this

Men’s violence more likely to injure and frighten Huge variability in patterns and causes

40% only one incident, but can involve chronic and/or severe violence

Variable causes of chronic SCV include chronic conflict, substance abuse, anger issues, communication issues, and others

By far the most common type

Gender Symmetry/Asymmetryby Type of Violence

(1970s Pittsburgh: Violent husbands and wives)

Husbands Wives NIntimate terrorism 97% 3% 97

Violent resistance 4% 96% 77

Situational couple violence 56% 44% 146

2000s Britain: IT 87% male; VR 10% male; SCV 45% male

The Biases of Major Sampling Plans(1970s Pittsburgh: Violent men)

GeneralSample(n = 37)

Court Sample(n = 34)

ShelterSample(n = 50)

Intimate terrorism 14% 68% 78%

Violent resistance 0% 0% 2%

Situational couple violence 86% 29% 18%

2000s Britain: Intimate terrorism by sample type: General sample = 13%, Shelter sample = 88%.

Are Women Really as Violent as Men? Anti-feminist politics and conflicting data Explaining the ostensible contradictions

A Control-based Typology of Partner Violence The three major types Gender differences and sampling biases

Dramatic Differences Among the Types Violence severity, frequency, mutuality, and escalation A few health and relationship consequences Different risk factors for perpetration

Policy Implications

76% severe75% escalated

29% mutual

28% severe

28% escalated69% mutual

1/25 couples

1/8 couples

Johnson, 2006Mixed sample, marriedPittsburgh, 1970s

57% frequent violence60% feared for life

8% frequent violence9% feared for life

Ansara & Hindin, 2010Previous/current partnersCanadian GSS 2004

Health and Relationship Outcomes by Type of Male Violence

SCV ITSevere injury Canada, GSS+ 5% 21% ***

Post-traumatic stress U.S., NVAW++ 37% 79% ***

Low marital happiness Pittsburgh 13% 50% ***

Left more than once U.S., NVAW 7% 29% ***

+Hospital treatment ++ Percent above the median for female victims of partner violence

***p < .001

Different Risk FactorsStudies by Various Social Scientists

Different Locations and Sample TypesDifferent Measures

Intergenerational “transmission” SCV d = .11 IT d = .35

Marriage SCV b = -.62 IT b = .58

Gender traditionalism SCV d = -.14 IT d = .80

Are Women Really as Violent as Men? Anti-feminist politics and conflicting data Explaining the ostensible contradictions

A Control-based Typology of Partner Violence The three major types Gender differences and sampling biases

Dramatic Differences Among the Types Violence severity, frequency, mutuality, and escalation A few health and relationship consequences Different risk factors for perpetration

Policy Implications

Different Intervention Effects

SCVDependent

ITAntisocial

IT

Completed Program 77% 38% 9%

No re-arrest 82% 62% 54%

No repeat violence 45% 38% 12%

Outcomes of Duluth-type Batterer Intervention Program

(Thirteen Months Post-adjudication)

Eckhardt et al., 2008

Screening/Triage Different models for different clients To screen we need to assess coercive

control and violence for both partners Safety first!

Initially assume the worst (intimate terrorism) If SCV seems likely, try individual application

of other approaches If you are confidant that you are dealing with

SCV, and safety has been demonstrated over time, you can move to couple approaches with protections in place

Primary Prevention/Education Intimate terrorism

Equality and respect Violent resistance

Danger signs Safety planning Entrapment/escape issues

Situational couple violence Sources of conflict Anger management tactics Communication Substance abuse

Intervention with PerpetratorsHold them all accountable in the criminal justice system

to provide an essential motivation for change

Intimate terrorism Control-focused education

Violent resistance Alternatives to violence/Safety planning Neutralize entrapment

Situational couple violence Sources of conflict Anger management Communication counseling Substance abuse rehab

Intervention for Survivors Intimate terrorism

Long-term support Alternatives to violent resistance Empowerment to leave Transitional support

Situational couple violence Sources of conflict Anger management Communication counseling Substance abuse rehab

Custody and Access Issues Manipulative accusations Resources for thorough evaluation Custody/access options

Joint custody/Co-parenting Parallel parenting, minimal couple contact Supervised exchanges Supervised access No contact

General samples provide useful information about situational couple violence Situational couple violence is the most common type of

intimate partner violence It is gender symmetric in terms of perpetration, not in terms of

impact It is incredibly variable, with many different causes

Agency samples provide useful information about intimate terrorism and violent resistance Intimate terrorism is primarily male-perpetrated; gender

inequality is central Violent resistors are primarily female; we still know little about

causes, other than the partner’s behavior

Two Big Takeaway Points

We make big mistakes if we don’t make big distinctions.

Different types of partner violence have…

Different causes Different developmental trajectories Different effects Different implications for policy and practice

Support Your Local Women’s Shelter

Safety Support Information Advocacy

Philadelphia, PA shelter

Photos from Donna Ferrato, Living with the Enemy. New York: Aperture, 1991