Despite relatively progressive progress in the search for equal rights for all members of society, gender-based violence remains a frequent problem in our society today.

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

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Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence is understood to be any behaviour, communication or absence of such produced by a subject with the aim of causing physical, psychological or sexual harm to another due to or for reasons derived from their belonging to a specific sex or gender.

The person who carries out the harmful act, the abuser, commits these acts voluntarily and intentionally, knowing that these acts are an infringement of the rights of the aggrieved party. Violence may be exercised directly or indirectly , through physical aggressions, humiliation, threats or coercion.Sometimes the violence is not exercised on the partner himself, but rather it attacks the environment or the children of the partner with the aim of causing them to suffer.

Statistics show that a great majority of abuse is carried out by men against women , generally initiating abusive attitudes and behaviour during adolescence or early youth.

There are also late-onset cases, as well as cases where the abuse is perpetrated by women against men (although it is generally not recognized as gender-based violence).

There are a large number of variables that can end up making an individual abusive, so it is not easy to establish a general profile of the abuser in gender violence. In spite of this, below we will see a dozen common traits in most cases.

The profile of the abuser

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

1. They usually have a good public image

It is not uncommon for cases of abuse to raise voices of surprise among people who know the abuser. This is due to the fact that outside the home the abuser tends to act with perfect normality , and in general there are no visible signs of hostility towards his or her partner in his or her behaviour, treating both her and the rest with cordiality and affection. It is in the home, in 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 towards their peers. Such feelings of inferiority cause deep frustration that can easily turn into violence.

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

3. Power Motivation

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

Largely due to the above-mentioned feelings of inferiority or lack of control in various vital domains important to the aggressor, the individual in question may end up needing to exercise control and dominance over the partner , whom they tend to consider inferior.

4. Internalize gender stereotypes

Gender-based violence is so called because the cause of the violence is linked to the sex of the person being assaulted. Therefore, most abusers use gender roles as a pretext for the aggression , using them to highlight their role and that of their partner and punishing the behaviours and thoughts that deviate from this.

Thus, the woman must be submissive, loving and dependent while the man must be strong, dominant and stoic. If one of the two does not fulfil 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 the different problems that may occur to them on a daily basis. Thus, problems and changes frustrate them and they often react to them in an aversive way. They defend their rights aggressively without taking into account the wishes of others and putting their needs first.

6. Dependency relationships

Although this is not true in all cases, it is common that the structure of the abuser’s personality tends to be somewhat dependent on the environment. This dependence causes fear and a certain fixation on the idea of being abandoned, which in the case of the abuser translates into an increase in control over the partner , a high level of jealousy towards other possible “competitors” , the attempt to isolate him/her and make him/her dependent on the aggressor and even physical aggression.

7. Emotional instability and impulsivity

As a rule, the abuser tends to have a high level of neuroticism. This means that he has a labile emotionality that can quickly turn 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 can trigger aggression.

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 that their own behaviour has on others.

9. Jealousy and possessiveness

The individual who abuses tends to fear that the partner will abandon him or her or expose him or her, so he or she tries to avoid being influenced or attracted to external subjects that could take him or her away from them, reacting violently to supposed interactions with people outside the couple, considering that they could take her away from him or her.

The abused person is considered an element of his property that must remain faithful and fulfill his designs. Controlling behaviours are established and the perception is biased in search of confirmation of their fears.

10. Low levels of empathy

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

11. Minimize violence or blame others

Another frequent factor, despite the fact that it does not occur in all cases, is the fact that the abuser tends to consider the violence exercised as justified , diminishing the importance of its effects or placing 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 very reduced capacity for empathy, many recidivist abusers have a high capacity for manipulation and suggestion. Although also depends on the situation and the personality of the victim , in some cases the ability to convince them that the aggressive behaviour has been carried out for their own good, that it is normal or even that the aggression was deserved, has been shown.

They can also predispose the victim to mistrust her environment and alienate her from it by putting her on bad terms with her loved ones, isolating her and making her dependent on the abuser.

Bibliographic references:

  • Castellano, M.; Lachica, E.; Molina, A. and Villanueva, H. (2004). Violence against women. The profile of the aggressor: risk assessment criteria. Cuadernos de Medicina Forense, 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-based 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.