Male Batterers and Their Children: Transmission of Narcissistic Wounding and Violent Coping
Male Batterers and Their Children: Transmission of Narcissistic Wounding and Violent Coping
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Issue Date
2000
Authors
Gutierrez, Karin Kerstin
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Abstract
A review of the literature on the etiology and treatment of domestic violence indicates that there is a wide range of variables to consider in both defining the term "domestic violence" and operationalizing those factors that may contribute to the personality of the male batterer. Most popular is conceptualizing domestic violence as a dysfunctional system of power and control tactics, including but not limited to physical assault. Another approach is to analyze the personality of the male batterer using the MMPI, the MCMI, and other personality tests in an attempt to discern underlying psychological variables held in common across groups of male batterers. In light of treatment goals to "stop the cycle" of violence, however, the most interesting and least explored question in this area of concern is the possible link in the personality development of all the various "battering" typologies between the parenting styles of male batterers toward their children and those of their fathers toward them, and how these interactions between father and family, particularly those causing shame and narcissistic wounding and other assaults on self-esteem, contribute to the personality
type known as “male batterer”.