The Relationship of Violence to Gender Role Conflict and Conformity to Masculine Norms in a Forensic Sample

Abstract

This study examines violent men and utilizes gender role conflict theory and conformity to masculine norms as a framework to understand why men continue to victimize others through violence. The sample consisted of 258 detainees and prisoners located in New England. Multiple regression analyses compared violence, gender role conflict, and conformity to masculine norms and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted examining violence as the criterion variable. In all analyses, violence remained statistically significant and gender role conflict and conformity to masculine norms were statistically significant as predictor variables in each analysis. Race, age, religious affiliation, and family history of crime were statistically significant in some regression analyses and predictors of violence. Implications for practice are discussed.