The impact of attachment on intimate partner violence perpetrated by women
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrated by women and the attachment style of each partner in 20 couples in which the male partner was in therapy for abusive men. Results confirmed the presence of a relationship between IPV and attachment style. Men with an avoidant attachment reported higher physical abuse victimization and higher use of negotiation during conflict, as revealed by their partner. Women with an anxious attachment reported having inflected more injuries and were less likely to use negotiation during conflict, as revealed by their partner. Findings highlight the relational basis of IPV.
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The strongest correlation between avoidant attachment and physical IPV victimization was obtained among a sample of men being in treatment for IPV perpetration.
“Interestingly, the strongest correlation was obtained among a sample of men being in treatment for IPV perpetration (Bélanger et al., 2015).”
From Exploring Relationships: A Systematic Review on Intimate Partner Violence and Attachment (2018) · cites this paper as Bélanger et al., 2015
Bélanger et al. (2015) reported a positive correlation between physical IPV victimization and avoidant attachment in males.
“One study, conducted by Bélanger et al. (2015), reported a positive correlation between physical IPV victimization and avoidant attachment in males.”
From Exploring Relationships: A Systematic Review on Intimate Partner Violence and Attachment (2018) · cites this paper as Bélanger et al., 2015
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- Authors
- Bélanger, C., Mathieu, C., Dugal, C., & Courchesne, C.
- Affiliations
- Université du Québec à Montréal (CA)
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Bélanger, Claude
- Venue
- The American Journal of Family Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-08-28
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 441-453
- ISSN
- 0192-6187 (ISSN-L)
- 1521-0383
- OpenAlex
- W1920693543
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 2.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Family Therapy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
- Keywords
- intimate partner violence, women offenders, attachment styles, attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, conflict negotiation, couple therapy, abusive men
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