Dissociation and trauma in male perpetrators of domestic violence: A typological analysis

Abstract

The phenomenon of domestic violence, also sometimes referred to more broadly as family violence, affects all spheres of society, all ages and all cultures. In recent years, there has been a major upsurge in acts of violence and associated consequences for both perpetrators and victims. Improving the quality of care through innovative clinical research should continue to be a priority; while the issue of trauma suffered by victims of domestic violence is well known, symptoms of trauma in perpetrators of violence has been less studied and merits further investigation. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine whether a typology of intimate partner violence (IPV) exists that includes the following characteristics: dissociative and traumatic symptoms, suicidal risk and attachment. Method: 38 male perpetrators of intimate partner violence who completed a court-ordered responsibility training course were recruited as study participants. Results: The results of typological analysis identified four sub-groups of perpetrators. Three specific characteristics emerged: the presence of dissociation with traumatic symptoms (profile 1), the presence of dissociation without traumatic symptoms (profile 2) and the absence of dissociative and traumatic symptoms (profiles 3 and 4). In addition, suicidal issues and attachment levels are presented and vary according to profiles. The clinical impact is discussed based on our findings.