Profile of the gender violence abuser, in 12 traits
Despite the relatively progressive progress in the search for equal rights for all members of society, gender violence is still a frequent problem in our society.
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 mistreatment and abuse, it is possible to find some typical characteristics of this type of aggressors.
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Gender violence
Gender violence is defined as 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 or for reasons derived from their belonging to a sex or gender. concrete gender.
The person who performs the harmful act, the abuser or abuser, commits such acts voluntarily and intentionally knowing that such acts involve a violation of the rights of the aggrieved party.Violence can be exercised directly or indirectly , through physical aggressions, vexations, threats or coercion. Sometimes violence is not exercised on one's partner, but is assaulted in the environment or the children of the same in order to cause their suffering.
The statistics reflect that a great majority of the mistreatments are exercised by men towards women , usually initiating abusive attitudes and behavior during adolescence or early youth.
There are also cases of late onset, as well as cases in which mistreatment 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 generating an individual end up being mistreated, which is not easy to establish a general profile of the figure of the abuser in gender violence. Despite this, we will see a dozen common traits in most cases.
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The profile of the abuser
While 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 usually shared by most batterers.
1. They tend to have a good public image
It is not uncommon that when cases of ill-treatment are known, voices of surprise arise among people who know the abuser. This is because outside the home the abuser tends to act with perfect normalcy , not having in general in his behavior visible signs of hostility toward his partner and treating her as much as the rest with cordiality and affection. It is in the home, in the private life, where the individual in question manifests and discharges his 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 peers. These feelings of inferiority provoke a deep frustration that can be easily transformed into violence.
On the other hand, the frustration that comes from seeing things from the perspective of those who have low self-esteem, in certain cases, leads to expressing anger through violence against those who are physically weaker or against those who are in a situation of vulnerability. for causes related to the context. In addition, a safe place in which to exercise that violence is sought, and the domestic environment is usually for the aggressor, since it offers privacy, far from the eyes of those who fear it.
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 that things are done in their own way, at least in small social circles, those in which they can try to enforce themselves through violence (instead of achieving it, they sometimes cause fear, something very different from respect).
Due in large part to the feelings of inferiority mentioned above or to the absence of control in various vital domains important to the aggressor, the individual in question can lead to the need to exercise control and control over the couple , whom they tend to consider inferior.
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4. Internalize gender stereotypes
Gender violence is so named because the cause of the exercise of violence is linked to the sex of the person subjected to aggression. Therefore, most abusers they use gender roles as a pretext for aggression , using them to highlight their role and that of their partner and punishing behaviors and thoughts that get away from it.
Thus, the woman must be submissive, affectionate and dependent while the man must be strong, dominant and stoic. If one of the two does not fulfill said papers Frustration and aggression appear .
5. Low level of assertiveness
Another relevant aspect in a large number of abusers is the absence of a capacity to respond assertively to different problems that can happen to them every day. Thus, problems and changes frustrate them and often react aversively to them. They defend their rights aggressively without taking into account the wishes of others and placing their needs first.
6. Dependency relationships
Although it is not true in all cases, it is common that in the structure of the abuser's personality there tends to be a certain dependence on the environment. This dependence causes fear and some fixation at the idea of being abandoned, which in the case of the abuser translates into an increase in control towards the couple, a high level of jealousy towards other possible "competitors" , the attempt to isolate it and make it depend 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 he has a labile emotionality that can quickly move 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 aggression.
8. Egocentrism
A relevant aspect shared by most abusers is the tendency to focus on their own needs and concerns , ignoring those of others or the consequences that own behavior in others.
9. Jealousy and possessiveness
The individual who mistreats tends to fear that the couple will abandon him or expose him, so he tries to avoid being influenced or attracted by external subjects that can take her away from her, reacting violently to supposed interactions with people outside the couple considering that they can snatch it.
The abused person It is considered an element of your property that he must remain faithful and fulfill his designs. Controlling behaviors are established and the perception is biased in search of the confirmation of their fears.
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10. Low levels of empathy
One of the most clearly visible aspects of the abusers is the little level of empathy they show with their victims . They do not usually put themselves in the victim's place or choose voluntarily to ignore their point of view, not taking into account the psychic and / or emotional effects that the mistreatment has on the victim beyond the control of their behavior.
11. 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 violence exerted as justified , diminish the importance of its effects or place the fault in the performance of the couple or in other factors such as alcohol or drugs.
12. Handling capacity
Although not in all cases, despite having a very reduced capacity for empathy many repeat offenders have a high capacity for manipulation and suggestion. While it also depends on the situation and the personality of the victim In some cases, the ability to convince them that aggressive behaviors have been carried out for their own good, that they are normal or even that the aggression was deserved, has been manifested.
They can also predispose the victim to distrust their environment and get away from it by putting it on bad terms with their loved ones, isolating it and making it 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. Forensic Medicine Notebooks, 35
