Violence in intimate relationships: A conceptual and empirical examination of sexual and physical aggression

Abstract

The present paper argues that the perpetration of both sexual and physical aggression by the same person in intimate relationships represents a unique form of intimate partner violence that warrants further theoretical and empirical examination. This paper also provides preliminary empirical evidence demonstrating that men who dual perpetrate represent a distinct group. Dual perpetration is defined as the commission of both sexual and physical aggression by the same person, although not necessarily on the same occasion nor directed toward the same target. The paper is divided into two parts. Part one reviews the correlates of sexual and physical partner aggression identified in past research. These include childhood experiences with family violence and abuse, as well as attitudinal, personality, behavioral and relationship characteristics. Part two reports on an empirical study that examines the similarities and differences between men who commit only physical aggression, only sexual aggression and both forms of aggression (dual perpetration). The paper concludes with a call to integrate research on sexual and physical partner aggression.