Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
9-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
Criminal Justice
Advisor
Chitra Raghavan
Committee Members
Rosemary Barberet
Katarzyna Celinska
Rosa Viñas-Racionero
Subject Categories
Criminology | Psychology
Keywords
Intimate Partner Violence, Coercive Control, Batterer Typologies, Shame, Guilt, Toxic Masculinity
Abstract
Coercive control provides a current day feminist understanding of intimate partner violence (IPV). Recent research has demonstrated the significance of coercive control and suggests it provides a more accurate understanding of IPV than using physical violence alone. Utilizing a feminist lens, this study’s first aim was to explore if typologies based on coercive control could be developed. The second and third aims were to explore if demographic differences and differences in masculinity exist across typologies. The final aim of this study was to continue the feminist understanding of IPV using the moral emotions of shame and guilt as an extension of failed masculinity and explore their differences across typologies.
One hundred and thirty-seven heterosexual men were recruited from a mandated batterer’s intervention program. Using cluster analyses, two potential models emerged. The first, based off quantitative measures, posits a two-cluster structure with a group of batterers who utilize high levels of severe and invasive coercive control, as well as punitive tactics and those who use lower levels of coercive control. The alternative model derived from narratives of coercion around a self-identified worst fight suggests a five-cluster structure. This snapshot in time suggests that batterers show preference to a specific form of coercive control and organize around tactics rather than severity. Using both these models, the remaining aims were explored. Results indicated little to no differences across demographics, masculinity, or moral emotions, suggesting that these variables do not influence why someone uses coercive control. However, results also indicate that coercive control is a viable way of categorizing abuse and that both quantitative and qualitative measurements of coercive control are essential to accurately capturing its use and impact.
Recommended Citation
Tuller, Abbie L., "Typologies of Battering:
Uncovering Patterns of Coercive Tactics Used by Abusive Men in a Mixed Methods Study" (2023). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5521