Batterers are prone to violent behavior often characterized by sudden bursts of anger which causes them to inflict physical harm upon children, spouses or others around them. This state of rage may be self-activated or generated by the environment. Psychopathic traits have been observed among persons who inflict physical harm on others. However, the relationship between research. Although numerous search has been done on the topic, studies are yet to explain the direct relationships between the two conclusively. This is because batterers with psychopathic traits display different levels of the condition. Consequently, there is need to advance research on this topic further.
However, the psychopathic personality disorder is associated with criminal behavior (Colins, Andershed, & Pardini, 2015). The condition is a multifaceted disorder affecting interpersonal relationships, affective dimensions, and the personals behavior. Researchers hold conflicting views about criminal behavior amounting to psychopathic traits (Colins, Andershed, & Pardini, 2015). Still, the dimensions that constitute psychopathic characteristics make it a challenge to associate these traits with criminal behavior fully. Studies to find the association between psychopathic traits with violent behavior among youth show that one-third of girls with severe violent behavior exhibit psychopathic traits (Oshukova, 2017). Adolescents with psychopathic traits display violent behavior towards intimate partners and family members (Oshukova, 2017). In light of these research finding, it is clear that psychopathic traits are closely associated with violent behavior.
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Conceptually, violent behavior displayed by batterers can be associated with psychopathic personality traits. However, this assertion lacks a scientific backing unless fully supported from a psychological view. Hence, the basis for this research in relating batterers with psychopathic traits. Therefore, these paper seeks to utilize existing research in explaining the high prevalence of psychopathic traits among batterers.
Method
This research utilizes previous studies on the topic of psychopathic traits among batterers. The relevant sources of data are peer-reviewed journals found in online sources. Due to extensive research and development of the issues surrounding psychopathic traits in young people as well as adults, this research limited its sources to those published less than five years ago. This criteria aids in filtering outdated information or findings that have not been refined through further research. It also improves the reliability of the research by using information that is relevant to the topic. Use of peer-reviewed articles adds to the authenticity of this research since the information provided is verified.
Importantly, the procedures for finding these peer-reviewed sources were a considerable determinant to the information accessed for research purposes. The leading words for searching the right sources in online databases were “psychopathy” and “batterer” although other keywords such as “violence” were also used. Identification of relevant sources was based on the content that is suitable to the research topic. Despite some of the articles containing information pertinent to the problem, presentation of this information had a bearing on the articles selected for the for this research. For, instance articles presenting only numeric or statistical data without cogent analysis of the data were unsuitable. The best articles were those where the primary research the topic was conducted then analyzed to draw useful conclusions.
Tentatively, the most important part of the research methodology involved analysis of the researched data. The careful analysis presents useful information that sets apart a well-researched paper from a shallow paper. Furthermore, crucial information gathered from previous studies if not well analyzed loses its purpose. Therefore this research sought to examine both statistical and discussed data from the peer-reviewed articles. By merging the findings of several studies conducted in different parts of the world, the results presented in this paper, as well as the discussion, is representative overall findings as opposed to studies conducted in specific regions or settings.
Furthermore, a review of the available literature on psychopathic traits among batterers presents useful information that can guide this study. Cunha and Gonçalves (2013, posit that batterers can be grouped into non-pathological, violent and antisocial and disturbed batterers. Their findings were from a study conducted among convicted men who had been found guilty of violent behavior towards their spouses (Cunha & Gonçalves, 2013). They also argued that exposure to parental violence was a contributing factor the batterer's behavior (Cunha & Gonçalves, 2013). Another study on the typological grouping of batterers showed that batterers could be grouped into three groups according to the level of violence minted upon intimate partners. Partners who exhibited low frequencies of violence towards their partners had low levels of psychopathological traits while high frequencies of violence were tied to severe psychopathological characteristics (Graña, Redondo, Muñoz-Rivas, & Cantos, 2014). Mid-level violence frequencies were associated with moderate levels of psychopathological traits. The researcher also found out that high levels of violence were found among the unemployed, pensioners and retirees (Graña, Redondo, Muñoz-Rivas, & Cantos, 2014). Thus, they concluded that low-income earners were highly at risk of exhibiting violent behavior towards their partners.
Violence towards intimate partners where the perpetrator exhibited psychopathological traits was enhanced by substance abuse (Reidy, Kearns, & DeGue, 2013). Low socialization skills and irresponsibility were also risk factors among these perpetrators. According to this study, psychopathic traits among batterers was a general observation although the level of violence was enhanced by substance abuse and irresponsible behavior by the perpetrator. Therefore, the impact of these traits on a person’s behavior is worsened by certain factors.
Research Findings
Indeed psychopathological traits are prevalent among physical violence perpetrators. These perpetrators range from adolescents, adult intimate partners, and older people. Studies have shown that psychopathological characteristics are directly related to physical aggression towards intimate partners (Colins, Andershed, & Pardini, 2015). Unsurprisingly, male batterers rank highest for these psychological traits. Predictors of future physical violence behavior among adolescents also show that psychopathological personality traits are indicators of physical aggression towards intimate partners. Thus, these traits link to physical violence which in turn leads to battering behavior. Again, criminality is tied to psychopathological traits. Individuals convicted of criminal behavior exhibit psychopathological traits in over 30% 0f the cases (Colins, Andershed, & Pardini, 2015). Although criminality is not necessarily battering, the link is essential in predicting battering behavior.
Research on the typological grouping of batterers shows that psychopathological characteristics or traits can be used to group batterers into non-pathological, disturbed and antisocial batterers (Cunha & Gonçalves, 2013). Non- pathological batterers exhibit a strong sense of control over their violent behavior and only turn aggressive in closed settings away from the public. Thus, they have few psychopathological traits. Disturbed batterers exhibit psychological distress that is consisted of psychopathological characteristics. These form 33% of batterers and are repeat offenders with a history of battering behavior (Cunha & Gonçalves, 2013). Antisocial batterers who form 27% of the group are also psychologically stressed (Cunha & Gonçalves, 2013). Batterers in these group have the characteristics consistent with the effective dimension of psychopathological personality disorder. They continuously keep to themselves and have a history of exposure to violence at a young age. They also lack empathy and are more likely to engage in extreme violence than the other groups of batterers.
Although perpetrators of physical violence against partners and others close, them may exhibit psychopathological traits, only about 50% of batterers have these traits (Cunha & Gonçalves, 2013). The remaining cases are due to drug and alcohol abuse and other factors. Inherently, these batterers exhibit different levels of violent behavior according to the type and nature of the psychopathic behavior. He traits were observed according to aggressive behavior and impulsive reactions. It emerged that impulsive response is mostly the cause of the physically violent behavior. Thus, participants who displayed impulsive characteristics most likely had psychopathological traits. The levels of batterers types include low, moderate and high violence types (Graña, Redondo, Muñoz-Rivas, & Cantos, 2014). Heterogeneity in the batterer types is brought about by the psychopathological traits in each of the levels. Low-level violence batterers display few psychopathological traits while high-level violence perpetrators have severe psychopathological traits. Interestingly, research shows that its unlikely that an individual can shift between the levels unless there is a change in the severity of the traits.
Psychopathic batterers have been observed to follow different patterns of violence as compared to other batterers (Pozueco-Romero, Moreno-Manso, Blázquez-Alonso, & García-Baamonde, 2013). Although both psychopathic and non-psychopathic partners have their reasons for violent behavior, the patterns differ according to the motivation for violence. Psychopathic batterers exhibit patterns of aggression and irritation that are dissimilar to drug users and alcoholics (Pozueco-Romero, Moreno-Manso, Blázquez-Alonso, & García-Baamonde, 2013). They are likely to engage in physical violence against their partners due to explosive rage (Pozueco-Romero, Moreno-Manso, Blázquez-Alonso, & García-Baamonde, 2013). Unlike other people who feel fear and jealousy in the case of intimate partner battering, psychopaths have no such feelings and motivations for physical harm against partners are unique. Accordingly, psychopaths’ patterns of violence are highly unpredictable although they are more likely to batter their intimate partners than other batterers despite the nonexistence of emotional connections.
Table 1
Adapted from Graña, Redondo, Muñoz-Rivas, & Cantos (2014)
Table one shows the results of a study conducted on 187 batterers to determine the typological grouping. From the analysis, three groups of batterers were obtained; namely non-pathological, disturbed and antisocial (Graña, Redondo, Muñoz-Rivas, & Cantos, 2014).
Discussion
Psychopathic personality traits leading to battering affects different groups of people ranging from adolescence to old people. Previous beliefs that psychopathy exclusively adults have been proven wrong since the adolescent brain is mature enough to be affected by the neurological disorders that result in psychopathy (Pozueco-Romero, Moreno-Manso, Blázquez-Alonso, & García-Baamonde, 2013). Studies show that psychopathic batterers ate mainly me,n who are low-income earners. This finding supports the hypothesis of this research that batterers there is a high prevalence of psychopathic personality traits among batterers. Characteristically, psychopaths have difficulty maintaining relationships leading to challenges in holding stable jobs resulting in low income. However, male batterers having the highest rank of psychological traits may be a contested assertion. Males are likely to result in physical violence more than women hence increasing the chances of male batterers with psychopathic traits.
Furthermore, the relationship between psychopathic traits and criminality is vital in understanding battering behavior. Psychiatrists studied the relationship between the two with some arguing that criminality is among the dimensions of psychopathic personality disorder (Collins, Andershed, & Pardini, 2015). Battering amounts to criminal behavior therefore psychopathic traits among batterers contribute to the high prevalence of batterers with these traits.
Grouping of batterers according to psychopathic characteristics further substantiates the claim that there is a high prevalence of psychopathic traits among batterers. Batterers are into non-pathological, disturbed and antisocial batterers (Cunha & Gonçalves, 2013). Grouping by psychopathic traits is only possible where a significant majority fall under this category. Otherwise, grouping using this criterion would be virtually impossible. According to the grouping, non-pathological batterers are known to exercise self-control while in public. Their behavior only becomes apparent in closed settings. Consequently, they can not be said to exhibit many of the psychopathic traits due to their ability to exercise self-control in some situations. Disturbed batterers and antisocial batterers who are the majority under this grouping exhibit a lot of the psychopathic traits. Therefore, they form a majority of the batterers with psychopathic traits.
Cunha and Gonçalves (2013), research finding that 50% of batterers show psychopathic tendencies further strengths the main argument in this paper. Their findings indicate that psychopathic traits are the leading cause of battering behavior followed by other reasons like drug abuse. The neurological cause of psychopathic persons resulting in violence is a disorder causing impulsive reactions and aggressive behavior. Tracking situations that lead to such behavior are challenging. Hence, lack of homogeneity in the characterizing psychopathic batterers. Importantly, psychopathic batterers exhibit patterns that are different from non-psychopathic batterers. Given the fact that most batterers are repeat offenders whose behavior is highly unpredictable, it's more likely that psychopathic personality disorder drives the behavior. Non-psychopathic batterers are likely to control situations that may lead to repeat actions, unlike their psychopathic counterparts who are motivated by this behavior by uncontrolled anger rages. Therefore, the uncontrolled tendencies of these batterers are often due to psychopathic traits.
Conclusion and Implications
Batterers exhibiting psychological traits are affected by sudden bursts of anger which cause them to inflict physical harm on others. This condition is difficult to control unless the psychopath is treated. Psychopathic traits among batterers can best be understood through analysis of scientific research on the topic. Peer-reviewed journals provide relevant information on this topic. The articles offer analyzed data on how psychopathic traits affect the behavior of batterers. Analysis of this data offers a new perspective on the topic and also supports the argument that there exists a high prevalence of psychopathic traits among batterers. Qualitative research findings reveal that indeed psychopaths are motivated by their traits in their battering behavior. Lack of homogeneity in the behavior of psychopaths leads to the typological grouping of batterers based on psychological traits.
This research implies that psychopathic traits should be treated as one of the most significant causes of battering behavior. Violence is s problem worldwide, hence understanding psychopathic personality behavior will help in dealing with the battering behavior. However, further research is needed in understanding the patterns of battering behavior among psychopaths.
References
Colins, O. F., Andershed, H., & Pardini, D. A. (2015). Psychopathic traits as predictors of future criminality, intimate partner aggression and substance use in young adult men. Law and human behavior, 39(6) , 547-558.
Cunha, O., & Gonçalves, R. A. (2013). Intimate partner violence offenders: Generating a data-based typology of batterers and implications for treatment. . The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, 5(2) , 131-139.
Graña, J. L., Redondo, N., Muñoz-Rivas, M. J., & Cantos, A. L. (2014). Subtypes of batterers in treatment: Empirical support for a distinction between Type I, Type II and Type III. . PloS one, 9(10) , e110651.
Oshukova, S. (2017). Psychopathic Traits and their Relation to Psychopathology in Community, Psychiatric Outpatient and Forensic Psychiatric Samples of Finnish Adolescents. Retrieved April 25, 2018, from https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/185237/PSYCHOPA.pdf?sequence=1
Pozueco-Romero, J. M., Moreno-Manso, J. M., Blázquez-Alonso, M., & García-Baamonde, M. E. (2013). The psychopathic intimate partner batterer: A non-psychopathological profile. Annals of Psychology, 30(1) , 25-36.
Reidy, D. E., Kearns, M. C., & DeGue, S. (2013). Reducing psychopathic violence: A review of the treatment literature. . Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18(5) , 527-538.
