This study investigated the relationship between the personality characteristics of male batterers and treatment outcome. It also examined a pattern of communication found in violent couples where the male pursues the female and the female withdraws in an argument. The study also compared alcohol use with treatment outcome.
Twenty-one men who attended a group psychoeducational treatment program for batterers completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). The men were divided into three groups based on their scores: non-pathological (normal profile), narcissistic/antisocial (elevated psychopathic deviate scale), and severely disordered (elevations on several scales). Pre and post-test measures were completed: Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Relationship Style Questionnaire (RSQ), Modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS), and a measure of minimizing and rationalizing (Min/Rat).
The men in the present sample were similar demographically to previous descriptions of court-referred batterers except for a higher percentage of non-white participants. The results did not support any differences in treatment outcome for the three MMPI-2 subtypes of male batterers. The data supported the results of Gondolf (1977) who completed a very extensive research project in this area of domestic violence. The present research also found no change in the male pursuit/female withdrawal communication pattern as a result of treatment. Finally, alcohol use was also found not to impact treatment outcome.
Participants were easily categorized into the three personality groups: non-pathological, antisocial/narcissistic, severely disordered. The non-pathological MMPI-2 group appeared \"better\" overall than the severely disordered group; less self pursuit, less partner withdrawal, more satisfaction with the relationship, and more affectional expression. The antisocial/narcissistic group generally fell in the middle of the other two categories, not significantly different from either. Implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for future research are outlined.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study investigated the relationship between the personality characteristics of male batterers and treatment outcome. It also examined a pattern of communication found in violent couples where the male pursues the female and the female withdraws in an argument. The study also compared alcohol use with treatment outcome.</p> <p>Twenty-one men who attended a group psychoeducational treatment program for batterers completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). The men were divided into three groups based on their scores: non-pathological (normal profile), narcissistic/antisocial (elevated psychopathic deviate scale), and severely disordered (elevations on several scales). Pre and post-test measures were completed: Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Relationship Style Questionnaire (RSQ), Modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS), and a measure of minimizing and rationalizing (Min/Rat).</p> <p>The men in the present sample were similar demographically to previous descriptions of court-referred batterers except for a higher percentage of non-white participants. The results did not support any differences in treatment outcome for the three MMPI-2 subtypes of male batterers. The data supported the results of Gondolf (1977) who completed a very extensive research project in this area of domestic violence. The present research also found no change in the male pursuit/female withdrawal communication pattern as a result of treatment. Finally, alcohol use was also found not to impact treatment outcome.</p> <p>Participants were easily categorized into the three personality groups: non-pathological, antisocial/narcissistic, severely disordered. The non-pathological MMPI-2 group appeared "better" overall than the severely disordered group; less self pursuit, less partner withdrawal, more satisfaction with the relationship, and more affectional expression. The antisocial/narcissistic group generally fell in the middle of the other two categories, not significantly different from either. Implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for future research are outlined.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Petrica, Lisa M."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Barbara A. Winstead","Susan A. Garvey","J. D. Ball","Janis Sanchez-Hucles","Joseph Galano"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1998,"date_issued":"1998-04-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"1998-04-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:34:31Z","subjects":["Alcohol","Batterers","domestic violence","Clinical Psychology","Criminology","Family, Life Course, and Society","Personality and Social Contexts","Social Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["9780591815900"],"render_values":[{"text":"9780591815900","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/217","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Barbara A. Winstead","Susan A. Garvey","J. D. Ball","Janis Sanchez-Hucles","Joseph Galano"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Petrica, Lisa M."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2019-04-09T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Alcohol","Batterers","domestic violence","Clinical Psychology","Criminology","Family, Life Course, and Society","Personality and Social Contexts","Social Psychology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["9780591815900","https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/217"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study investigated the relationship between the personality characteristics of male batterers and treatment outcome. It also examined a pattern of communication found in violent couples where the male pursues the female and the female withdraws in an argument. The study also compared alcohol use with treatment outcome.
Twenty-one men who attended a group psychoeducational treatment program for batterers completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). The men were divided into three groups based on their scores: non-pathological (normal profile), narcissistic/antisocial (elevated psychopathic deviate scale), and severely disordered (elevations on several scales). Pre and post-test measures were completed: Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Relationship Style Questionnaire (RSQ), Modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS), and a measure of minimizing and rationalizing (Min/Rat).
The men in the present sample were similar demographically to previous descriptions of court-referred batterers except for a higher percentage of non-white participants. The results did not support any differences in treatment outcome for the three MMPI-2 subtypes of male batterers. The data supported the results of Gondolf (1977) who completed a very extensive research project in this area of domestic violence. The present research also found no change in the male pursuit/female withdrawal communication pattern as a result of treatment. Finally, alcohol use was also found not to impact treatment outcome.
Participants were easily categorized into the three personality groups: non-pathological, antisocial/narcissistic, severely disordered. The non-pathological MMPI-2 group appeared \"better\" overall than the severely disordered group; less self pursuit, less partner withdrawal, more satisfaction with the relationship, and more affectional expression. The antisocial/narcissistic group generally fell in the middle of the other two categories, not significantly different from either. Implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for future research are outlined.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Men Who Batter: Personality Variables, Relationship Variables, and Treatment Outcome"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Barbara A. Winstead","Susan A. Garvey","J. D. Ball","Janis Sanchez-Hucles","Joseph Galano"],"dc:creator":["Petrica, Lisa M."],"dc:date.available":["2019-04-09T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study investigated the relationship between the personality characteristics of male batterers and treatment outcome. It also examined a pattern of communication found in violent couples where the male pursues the female and the female withdraws in an argument. The study also compared alcohol use with treatment outcome.
Twenty-one men who attended a group psychoeducational treatment program for batterers completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). The men were divided into three groups based on their scores: non-pathological (normal profile), narcissistic/antisocial (elevated psychopathic deviate scale), and severely disordered (elevations on several scales). Pre and post-test measures were completed: Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Relationship Style Questionnaire (RSQ), Modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS), and a measure of minimizing and rationalizing (Min/Rat).
The men in the present sample were similar demographically to previous descriptions of court-referred batterers except for a higher percentage of non-white participants. The results did not support any differences in treatment outcome for the three MMPI-2 subtypes of male batterers. The data supported the results of Gondolf (1977) who completed a very extensive research project in this area of domestic violence. The present research also found no change in the male pursuit/female withdrawal communication pattern as a result of treatment. Finally, alcohol use was also found not to impact treatment outcome.
Participants were easily categorized into the three personality groups: non-pathological, antisocial/narcissistic, severely disordered. The non-pathological MMPI-2 group appeared \"better\" overall than the severely disordered group; less self pursuit, less partner withdrawal, more satisfaction with the relationship, and more affectional expression. The antisocial/narcissistic group generally fell in the middle of the other two categories, not significantly different from either. Implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for future research are outlined.
"],"dc:identifier":["9780591815900","https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/217"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
"],"dc:subject":["Alcohol","Batterers","domestic violence","Clinical Psychology","Criminology","Family, Life Course, and Society","Personality and Social Contexts","Social Psychology"],"dc:title":["Men Who Batter: Personality Variables, Relationship Variables, and Treatment Outcome"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:34:31Z"}