Intimate Partner Violence: Perceptions and Attributions of Male Perpetrators

There are many reasons to perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV). This study analyzes the attributions and perceptions of Portuguese men who IPV understand their justifications for against female partners. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven male perpetrators. Through thematic analysis, three main categories emerged: self, partner, situational factors. Perpetrators identified self attributes as abuse, such individual characteristics, emotional disturbances, jealousy; attributes, partners’ characteristics use them; factors, alcohol abuse relational stressors. Perpetrators’ narratives evidenced a tendency conceive an unintentional unplanned action, attributing uncontrollable attitude non-accountability behaviors/actions. A deeper understanding perpetrators’ will help develop more effective intervention programs offenders or improve existent ones, example, in terms dropout prevention, reduce women.