Risk factors in committing domestic violence in light of gender psychology

Abstract

BackgroundThe present research attempts to establish specific risk factors of domestic violence occurrences, and to pinpoint the gender-specific differences that are their main predictors. According to the subject literature, four categories of variables (personality, temperamental, socialisation, and demographic features) may constitute significant predictors of violent behaviours.Participants and procedureThe selection criterion was the type of crime. Prospective research subjects were men and women convicted under article 207 paragraph 1.2 the Penal Code for abuse of family members. The group constituted 366 inmates – 130 female (35.60%) and 236 male (64.40%). The following measurement methods were used: NEO-FFI Inventory by P. Costa, R. McCrae, Formal Characteristic of Behaviour – Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI) by B. Zawadzki, J. Strelau, Attachment <i>Questionnaire</i> by M. Plopa, <i>Own Questionnaire</i>.ResultsThe results indicate that domestic violence perpetrated by women is connected with alcohol consumption and perseverance; and for men with anxious-ambivalent attachment and briskness.ConclusionsThe research showed the temperamental temporary behavioural characteristics of perseverance and briskness were risk factors for both male and female perpetrators of violence. This may indicate that the main risk factor in occurrences of violence is the way people react to external stimuli, the need for stimulation, and thus the constitution of the nervous system.