Profile of the perpetrator of gender violence, in 12 traits

Despite the relatively progressive progress in the search for equal rights for all members of society, gender violence continues to be a frequent problem in our society today.

Psychology has tried to work both on the victim and on the social environment and even on the aggressor. In the latter case, an attempt has been made establish a typical pattern or profile of the abuser. Although there are many types of abuse and abuser / a, it is possible to find some typical characteristics of this type of aggressors.

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Gender violence

Gender violence is understood to be all conduct, communication or absence of these produced carried out by a subject in order to cause physical, psychological or sexual harm to another due to or for reasons derived from their belonging to one sex or gender concrete.

The person who performs the harmful act, the abuser or abuser, commits said acts in a manner Voluntary and intentional knowing that said acts constitute a violation of the rights of the party attacked.

Violence can be exercised directly or indirectly, through physical attacks, humiliation, threats or coercion. Sometimes violence is not exerted on the partner itself, but rather attacks the environment or its children in order to cause her suffering.

The statistics reflect that a great majority of the mistreatments are exerted by men towards women, generally initiating abusive attitudes and behaviors during adolescence or early youth.

There are also cases of late onset, as well as cases in which abuse is exercised by women towards men (although it is generally not recognized as gender violence).

There are a large number of variables that can end up causing an individual to end up ill-treating, with which it is not easy to establish a general profile of the figure of the abuser in the violence of gender. Despite this, below we will see a dozen common traits in most cases.

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The profile of the abuser

Although there is no single type of abuser and they all have characteristics that make them different from each other, there are a series of elements that tend to be common in almost all cases. Below are a series of twelve traits that are commonly shared by most abusers.

1. They usually have a good public image

It is not uncommon that when cases of abuse are known, voices of surprise arise among those who know the abuser. This is because outside the home the abuser tends to act with perfect normalityAs a rule, there are no visible signs of hostility towards her partner in her behavior, and treating her and others with cordiality and affection. It is at home, in private life, where the individual in question manifests and unloads her aggressiveness.

2. Feelings of inferiority and low self-esteem

A common denominator in most abusers is the presence of low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority with respect to their fellow men. Such feelings of inferiority provoke deep frustration that can easily turn into violence.

On the other hand, the frustration produced by seeing things from the perspective of someone with low self-esteem, in certain cases, leads to expressing anger to through violence against those who are physically weaker or against those who are in a vulnerable situation due to causes related to the context. In addition, a safe place is sought in which to exercise that violence, and the domestic environment is usually for the aggressor, since it offers privacy, away from the eyes of those who are afraid.

3. Motivation for power

As a general rule, the abuser tends to have a high need for power. These subjects they tend to need to impose their own opinions or have things done their own way, at least in small social circles, those in which they can try enforcing respect through violence (instead of achieving it, they sometimes cause fear, something very different from I respect).

Due in large part to the aforementioned feelings of inferiority or lack of control in various vital domains important to the aggressor, the individual in question can lead to the Need to exercise control and dominance over the partner, whom they tend to consider inferior.

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4. They internalize gender stereotypes

Gender-based violence receives that name because the cause of the exercise of violence is linked to the sex of the person who is the object of aggression. Consequently, most abusers use gender roles as a pretext for aggression, using them to emphasize his role and that of his partner and punishing behaviors and thoughts that move away from it.

Thus, the woman has to be submissive, loving and dependent while the man has to be strong, dominant and stoic. If one of the two does not fulfill these roles frustration and aggressiveness appear.

5. Low level of assertiveness

Another relevant aspect in a large number of abusers is the absence of an ability to respond assertively to different problems that can happen to them day by day. Thus, problems and changes frustrate them and often react aversive to them. They aggressively defend their rights without taking into account the wishes of others and putting their needs first.

6. Dependency relationships

Although it is not fulfilled in all cases, it is common that the personality structure of the abuser tends to have a certain dependence on the environment. This dependence causes fear and a certain fixation before the idea of ​​being abandoned, which in the case of the abuser translates into an increase in control towards the partner, a high level of jealousy towards other potential "competitors", the attempt to isolate her and make her dependent on the aggressor and even physical aggression.

7. Emotional instability and impulsiveness

As a general rule, the abuser tends to have a high level of neuroticism. This means that you have a labile emotionality that can quickly go from joy to sadness, or from affection to contempt. This lack of stability facilitates frustration and internal tension, which together with high impulsivity and poor impulse control it can trigger an assault.

8. Egocentrism

A relevant aspect that most abusers share is the tendency to focus on their own needs and concerns, ignoring those of others or the consequences of one's own behavior on others.

9. Jealousy and possessiveness

The individual who abuses tends to fear that the partner will abandon him or put him in evidence, thus trying to avoid being influenced or attracted by subjects externalities that may take her away from her, reacting violently to alleged interactions with people outside the couple, considering that they may snatch it away.

The abused person is considered an item of your property that he must remain faithful and fulfill his designs. Controlling behaviors are established and perception is skewed in search of confirmation of their fears.

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10. Low levels of empathy

One of the most clearly visible aspects in abusers is the low level of empathy they show with their victims. They do not usually put themselves in the place of the attacked or voluntarily choose to ignore their point of view, not taking into account counts the psychic and / or emotional effects that the abuse has on the victim beyond the control of their conduct.

11. They minimize violence or blame others

Another frequent factor, although it does not occur in all cases, is the fact that the abuser tends to consider the violence exerted as justified, reduce the importance of its effects or place the blame on the actions of the partner or on other factors such as alcohol or drugs.

12. Handling capacity

Although not in all cases, despite having a greatly reduced capacity for empathy, many repeat abusers have a high capacity for manipulation and suggestion. Yes OK it also depends on the situation and the personality of the victimIn some cases, the ability to convince them that the aggressive behaviors have been carried out for their good, that they are normal or even that the aggression was deserved, has been manifested.

They can also predispose the victim to mistrust her environment and move away from him by putting her in bad terms with their loved ones, isolating them and making them depend exclusively on the aggressor.

Bibliographic references:

• Castellano, M.; Lachica, E.; Molina, A. and Villanueva, H. (2004). Violence against women. The profile of the aggressor: risk assessment criteria. Notebooks of Forensic Medicine, 35.
• Gadd, D.; Fox, C.L. and Hale, R. (2014). Preliminary steps towards a more preventative approach to eliminating violence against women in Europe. European Journal of Criminology (SAGE) 11 (4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370813505953.
• Kilmartin, C.; Allison, J.A. (2007). Men's Violence Against Women: Theory, Research, and Activism. London: Routledge.
• Patrícia Gil, E.; Lloret, I. (2007). Human rights and gender violence. Barcelona: Editorial UOC.
• Reichel, D. (2017). Determinants of Intimate Partner Violence in Europe: The Role of Socioeconomic Status, Inequality, and Partner Behavior. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 32(12): 1853 - 1873.
• Villacampa Estiarte, C. (2008). Gender violence and the criminal justice system. Valencia: Tirant lo Blanch.