Development of violence in men who batter intimate partners: A case study

Intimate partner violence is a serious and pervasive problem with substantial consequences for women's health such as depression, increased suicide risk, chronic pain, and poorer pregnancy outcomes. IPV is not well understood because of the interrelationships of current abuse to past exposure to violence, substance abuse, stressful life events, and other factors. Drawn from a larger study, this case illustrates themes related to development of male violence against intimate partners. Through in-depth exploration of one informants' experiences, these themes provide a partial answer to the question: "Why do men abuse women?" Depression, low self-esteem, and alcohol abuse were major problems for this informant with financial issues creating tension in his marriage. The informant's formative years were a vortex of shame, insecure attachment, unresolved conflicts and abuse. Current approaches for addressing intimate partner violence focus on tertiary interventions. This case study illustrates the importance of primary prevention with men who batter intimate partners.