The dynamics, personality, and psychosocial characteristics of 26 batterers in therapy were investigated.
Three subgroups were identified that varied in their personality profile, developmental factors, alcohol use, arrest history, relationships, and history of violence. The tyrant group (9 men) was characterized by passivity, dependence, depression, and repressed hostility. Men in this group had alcohol problems, had been arrested less frequently, had a history of marital violence in their family of origin, were confused about their masculine< identity, and were married to women who were passive and dependent and had a prior history of abuse. Exposed rescuers (7 men) were resentful, angry, and had trouble expressing anger. These men were most alcoholic, had had frequent contact with police, and were likely to have come from violent and nonintact families. All had been abused as children, exposed to marital violence, or both. Their approach to their wives was naive and idealistic, and they depended upon their wives to reinforce their self-concepts of competence and mastery. The nonexposed altruists (8 men) had personality characteristics similar to the rescuers. Fewer of these men had drinking problems. They came from intact families and had not been exposed to abuse or marital violence in childhood. They were generally unassertive in their family relationships and had great difficulty with intimacy. 33 references.