Does psychological violence contribute to partner violence research? A historical, conceptual and critical review

Abstract

This article offers a critical historical and conceptual review of the category of psychological partner violence, identifying associated trends, approaches and components, and examining ways to define and implement the category in partner violence research. The first section presents general logical principles of behavioral categorization that are valid for psychological partner violence. The second section examines common partner violence approaches to psychological partner violence, based on the principles of classification presented in the first section. It identifies how psychological violence is defined, what are the behaviors it includes and excludes, and how it is incorporated in the study of partner violence. For that end, major works in this field are chronologically examined. Based on limitations identified in the second section, it is argued that despite all the attempts made, psychological partner violence is still a vague, unclear, and controversial concept. As such, its contribution to the field of partner violence is doubtful. It is thus recommended to relinquish psychological partner violence as a distinct category of partner violence, and to regard it as merely an abstract heuristic backdrop. • Psychological violence is a distinct category of partner violence. • Psychological violence is an important category for understanding and coping with partner violence. • Psychological violence is inadequately characterized, defined and operationalized in the study of partner violence. • Psychological violence limitations must be identified, addressed and resolved as much as possible. • Psychological violence is a heuristic backdrop for non-physical categories of partner violence.