Can Romantic Attachment and Psychopathy Concomitantly Explain the Forms and Severity of Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence in Men Seeking Treatment?

Abstract

This study examines the respective contributions of two risk markers for intimate partner violence perpetrated by men seeking psychological help: psychopathic personality traits (primary and secondary), and attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance). In an effort to offer more specific and nuanced results, the severity of the violence perpetrated by participants (i.e., minor and severe) was examined with regards to three forms of intimate partner violence: physical, psychological, and sexual. A sample of 226 men seeking help in a community organization specialized in the treatment of relational difficulties and intimate partner violence answered a series of self-report questionnaires. Results of multiple and logistic regression analyses reveal that attachment anxiety is related to the perpetration of minor psychological violence, severe physical violence, and minor sexual violence. Attachment avoidance is not significantly associated with perpetration of intimate partner violence when attachment anxiety and psychopathy traits are considered. Primary psychopathy is also linked to the perpetration of severe psychological and sexual violence, whereas secondary psychopathy is solely associated with the perpetration of minor psychological violence. From a clinical standpoint, these results highlight the importance of considering the forms and severity of intimate partner violence, and put forward the relevance of assessing and considering issues surrounding attachment insecurities and psychopathy in men seeking treatment for relationship difficulties.