Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Perpetration of Gay and Lesbian Partner Violence: A Disempowerment Perspective

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Family Violence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Gay men and lesbians may experience domestic violence at rates as high as, or higher than heterosexuals, yet there is a noticeable absence of empirical research investigating this phenomenon. This study investigated same-sex partner violence from a disempowerment perspective to determine the influence of (a) individual characteristics, (b) family of origin factors, and (c) intimate relationship factors. A sample of 77 individuals in distressed relationships (40 gay men and 37 lesbians) were administered a series of quantitative measures in our project office. Data primarily were analyzed using two-way ANOVAs (gender×perpetrator of violence). The greatest number of differences between perpetrators and nonperpetrators was found in individual characteristics. Implications for practitioners working with gay men and lesbians experiencing partner violence are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Archer, J. (1994). Power and male violence. In Archer J (ed.), Male violence (pp. 310–332). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arias, I., Samios, M., & O’Leary, K. (1987). Prevalence and correlates of physical aggression during courtship. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 82–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, O. W., Miller-Perrin, C. L., & Perrin, R. D. (1997). Family violence across the lifespan. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartle, S. E., & Rosen, K. (1994). Individuation and relationship violence. American Journal of Family Therapy, 22, 222–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouton, R. A., Gallaher, P. E., Garlinghouse, P. A., Leal, T., Rosenstein, L. D., & Young, R. K. (1987). Scales for measuring fear of AIDS and homophobia. Journal of Personality Assessment, 51, 606–614.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, J., Ryan, C., & Rothblum, E. D. (1994). National lesbian health care survey: Implications for mental health care. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 228–242.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, L. K., & Follingstad, D. R. (1999). Violence in lesbian and gay relationships: Theory, prevalence, and correlational factors. Clinical Psychology Review, 19, 487–512.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, D. (1996). Clinical models for the treatment of gay male perpetrators of domestic violence. In: Renzetti C. M., Miley C. H. (eds.), Violence in gay and lesbian domestic partnerships (pp. 107–116). New York: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Claes, J. A., & Rosenthal, D. M. (1990). Men who batter women: A study in power. Journal of Family Violence, 5, 215–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, V. E. (1990). Violence between lesbian couples: A between groups comparison. Dissertation Abstracts, 51(11),(UMI No. 910022).

  • Coleman, V. E. (1994). Lesbian battering: The relationship between personality and the perpetration of violence. Violence and Victims, 9, 139–152.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R. (1992). The brief symptom inventory: Administration, scoring, and procedures manual. Towson, MD: Clinical Psychometric Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, D. L., & Wilsnack, S. C. (1978). Alcohol abuse among lesbians: A descriptive study. Journal of Homosexuality, 4, 123–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dutton, D. G. (1998). The abusive personality: Violence and control in intimate relationships. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferraro, K. J., & Johnson, J. M. (1983). How women experience battering: The process of victimization. Social Problems, 30. 325–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelles, R. J. (1999). Male offenders: Our understanding from the data. In: Harway, M., O’Neil, J. M. (eds.), What causes men’s violence against women? (pp. 36–48). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelles, R. J. (2000). A life course approach to family violence. In: Price, S. J., McKenry, P. C., Murphy, M. J. (eds.), Families across time: A life course perspective (pp. 105–116). Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, J. J. (1986). Alcohol consumption, cognition, and context: Examining tavern violence. In: Campbell, A., Gibbs, J. J. (eds.), Violent transactions: The limits of personality (pp.175–202). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gondolf, E. W., Fisher, W. W., Fisher, E., & McPherson, J. R. (1988). Racial differences among shelter residents: A comparison of Anglo, Black, and Hispanic battered. Journal of Family Violence, 3, 39–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goode, W. J. (1971). Force and violence in the family. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 33, 624–635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, G. L., Relf, M. V., Huang, B., Pollack, L. M., Canchola, J. A., & Catania, J. A. (2002). Battering victimization among a probability-based sample of men who have sex with men. American Journal of Public Health, 92,1964–1969.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, D. W., & Bartholomew, K. (1994). The metaphysics of measurement: The case of adult attachment. In: Bartholomew, K., Perlman, D. (eds.), Advances in personal relationships: Vol. 5. Attachment processes in adulthood (pp. 17–52). London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamberger, L. K., & Hastings, J. E. (1991). Personality correlates of men who batter and nonviolent men: Some continuities and discontinuities. Journal of Family Violence, 6, 131–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauser, B. B. (1985). Custody in dispute: Legal and psychological profiles of contesting families. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 575–582.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfeld, R. M. A., Klerman, G. L., Gough, H. G., Barrett, J., Korchin, S. J., & Chodoff, P. (1977). A measure of interpersonal dependency. Journal of Personality Assessment, 41, 610–618.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B., & Redlich, F. (1958). Social class and mental illness. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornung, C. A., McCullough, B. C., & Sugimoto, T. (1981). Status relationships in marriage: Risk factors in spouse abuse. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 43, 675–692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hotaling, G. T., & Sugarman, D. B. (1986). An analysis of risk markers in husband to wife violence: The current state of knowledge. Violence and Victims, 1, 101–124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Island, D., & Letellier, P. (1991). Men who beat the men who love them: Battered gay men and domestic violence. New York: Harrington Park Press.

  • Johnson, M. P., & Ferraro, K. J. (2000) Research on domestic violence in the 1990s: Making distinctions. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 948–963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Julian, T. W., McKenry, P. C., Gavazzi, S. M., & Law, J. C. (1999). Test of family of origin structural models of male verbal and physical aggression. Journal of Family Issues, 20, 397–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kus, R. J. (1990). Alcoholism in the gay and lesbian communities. In: Kus, R. J. (ed.), Keys to caring: Assisting your gay and lesbian clients (pp. 66–81). Boston: Alyson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Letellier, P. (1994). Gay and bisexual male domestic violence victimization: Challenges to feminist theory and responses to violence. Violence and Victims, 9, 95–106.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lockhart, L. L., White, B. W., Causby, V., & Isaac, A. (1994). Letting out the secret: Violence in lesbian relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 9, 469–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malik, N. M., & Lindahl, K. M. (1998). Aggresson and dominance: The role of power and culture in domestic violence. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 5, 409–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McConaghy, N., & Zamir, R. (1995). Heterosexual, homosexual coercion, sexual orientation, and sex roles. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 24, 489–502.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, E. I., Patterson, J. M., & Wilson, L. R. (1982). FILE: Family inventory of life events and changes. In: Olson, D. H., Barnes, H., Larsen, A., Muxen, M., & Wilson, R. (eds.), Family inventories (pp. 69–80). St. Paul, MN: Family Social Sciences, University of Minnesota.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenry, P. C., Julian, T. W., & Gavazzi, S. M. (1995). Towards a biopsychosocial model of male violence against a female intimate. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 307–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers, B. (1989). Lesbian battering: An analysis of power. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

  • Miller, D. H., Greene, K., Causby, V., White, B. W., & Lockhart, L. L. (2001). Domestic violence in lesbian relationships. Women and Therapy, 23 107–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, A. M. (1997). Intimate violence: Does socioeconomic status matter? In: Cardarelli, A. P. (ed.), Violence between intimate partners (pp. 90–100). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council. (1998). Understanding violence against women. Washington, DC: National Academy.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neil, J. M., & Harway, M. (1999). Preliminary multivariate model explaining the causes of men’s violence against women. In: Harway, M., O’Neil, J. M. (eds.), What causes men’s violence against women (pp. 12–17). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagelow, M. D. (1984). Family violence. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, C. J., & D’Augelli, A. R. (1998), Lesbian, gay and bisexual identities in families: Psychological perspectives. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Procidano, M. W., & Heller, K. (1983). Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: Three validation studies. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 1–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Renzetti, C. M. (1988). Violence in lesbian relationships: A preliminary analysis of causal factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 3, 381–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renzetti, C. M. (1989). Building its second closet: Third party responses to victims of lesbian partner abuse. Family Relations, 38, 157–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renzetti, C. M. (1992). Violent betrayal: Partner abuse in lesbian relationships. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renzetti, C. M. (1997). Violence in lesbian and gay relationships. In: O’Toole, L. L., Schiffman, J. R. (eds.), Gender violence: Interdisciplinary perspectives (pp. 230–266). New York: New York University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. W. (1990). The relationship between life events and mental health in homosexual men. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 402–411.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. W., & Simon Rosser, B. R. (1996). Measurement and correlates of internalized homophobia: A factor analytic study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52, 15–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, V., & Schwartz, P. (1995). Same-sex couples: Courtship, commitment, and context. In: Auhagen A. E., von Salisch M. (eds.), The diversity of human relationships. Cambridge: University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schilit, R., Lie, G., & Montagne, M. (1990). Substance use as a correlate of violence in intimate lesbian relationships. Journal of Homosexuality, 19, 5l–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schumm, W. R., Paff-Bergen, L. A., Hatch, R. C., Obiorah, F. C., Copeland, J. E., & Meens, L. D., et al. (1986). Concurrent and discriminant validity of the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 381–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R. L., & Holahan, C. K. (1979). Negative and positive components of psychological masculinity and femininity and their relationships to self-reports of neurotic and acting out behaviors. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1673–1682.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stark, E., & Flitcraft, A. (1988). Violence among intimates: An epidemiological review. In: Van Hasselt, V. B., Morrison, R. L., Bellack, A. S., Hersen, M., Hareway, M. (eds.), Handbook of family violence (pp. 293–318). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stelzer, M. L. (1971). The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 1653–1658.

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M., Gelles, R., & Stenimetz, S. (1980). Behind closed doors: Violence in American families. Garden City, NY: Anchor/Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2): Development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17, 283–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Finkelhor, D., Moore, D. W., & Runyan, D. (1998). Identification of child maltreatment with the parent–child Conflict Tactics Scales: Development and psychometric data for a national sample of American parents. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22, 249–270.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tech, C. F., & Lindquist, C. V. (1984). Violent versus nonviolent couples: A comparison of patterns. Psychotherapy, 21, 242–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolman, R. M. (1989). The development of a measure of psychological maltreatment of women by their male partners. Violence and Victims, 4, 159–177.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waldner-Haugrud, L. K., Gratch, L. V., & Magruder, B. (1997). Victimization and perpetration rates of violence in gay and lesbian relationships: Gender issues explored. Violence and Victims, 12, 173–184.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, L. E. (1984). The battered women syndrome. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, L. E. (1999). Psychology and domestic violence around the world. American Psychologist, 54, 21–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. L., & Heikes, E. J. (1993). The importance of researcher’s gender in the in-depth interview: Evidence from two case studies of male nurses. Gender and Society, 7, 280–291.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University, 135 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA

    Patrick C. McKenry, Julianne M. Serovich & Tina L. Mason

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA

    Katie Mosack

Authors
  1. Patrick C. McKenry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julianne M. Serovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tina L. Mason
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Katie Mosack
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julianne M. Serovich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McKenry, P.C., Serovich, J.M., Mason, T.L. et al. Perpetration of Gay and Lesbian Partner Violence: A Disempowerment Perspective. J Fam Viol 21, 233–243 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-006-9020-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-006-9020-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation