Batterers’characteristics: study of a Spanish sample from partner’s reports

Abstract

Violence against women in general and domestic violence in particular may occur in all social and ethnic groups, and is not directly related to social class, cultural level or race. Nevertheless, some myths and some research studies still insist on the idea that this violence occurs exclusively in problematic environments and is determined by batterers’ individual characteristics. The objective of this study is to analyse the demographic and behavioural characteristics of partner abusers and to provide some empirical data that may challenge these myths. A sample of 142 battered women was studied using an extensive interview including questions about themselves, their relationship, and their partners. Data on their partners are presented here. The results show that domestic violence does not occur exclusively inside a particular social setting. Further more, factors sometimes considered to be among the causes of this problem, such as alcohol or drug abuse, psychopathology or family history of abuse, only appear in a proportion of the batterers. To complete our analysis, we study the relations between these variables and the violent behaviours perpetrated and discuss the implications of the results.