SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PERPETRATORS

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the socio-psychological traits of a person who commits domestic violence. Domestic violence is viewed not as a single act of aggression, but as a systemic model of behavior formed as a result of a combination of individual psychological characteristics, unfavorable social conditions and fixed cultural norms. The paper describes the main types of domestic violence – physical, psychological, sexual and economic – with a focus on their psychological consequences and typical ways of implementation by the offender. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the influence of the family microenvironment, the experience of observing or experiencing violence in childhood, as well as social approval of the dominant model of male behavior. It is substantiated that traditional ideas of masculinity, which imply strength, emotional restraint and tight control, significantly increase the risk of tolerance to domestic violence. It has been determined that socialization factors and cultural stereotypes interact with psychological mechanisms, increasing the tendency to aggressive behavior. From a psychological perspective, the article focuses on such mechanisms as projection (unconscious transfer of one’s own destructive emotions to a partner), frustration (emotional tension that arises when a goal is not achieved), and insufficient ability to emotional self-regulation. It is proved that impulsivity, low stress resistance, lack of empathy, and lack of constructive conflict resolution skills are the leading predictors of violent behavior. It is emphasized that an offender in a situation of domestic violence is not only an aggressor, but also a carrier of deeper personal deformations that require professional intervention. The results of the study are of practical importance for specialists in the field of psychology, social work and law, in particular for the development of correctional programs, resocialization of aggressors and prevention of domestic violence.