Relationships Among Shame, Restrictiveness, Authoritativeness, and Coercive Control in Men Mandated to Batterer Treatment

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Coercive control (CC) is an abusive dynamic that incorporates intimidation, microregulation, and restricting one’s autonomy to control an intimate partner. Current intimate partner violence (IPV) research argues that coercive control is a core component of IPV. This study seeks to examine how shame may influence CC. Specifically, some extant research has linked extreme shame to the need to exert greater power and control over the partner, suggesting that shame and CC may be associated. Furthermore, men’s need for dominance has also been associated with overall IPV, although not specifically with coercion. Accordingly, this research will test pathways among shame and two trait indices of dominance: restrictiveness and the need for authority, to CC behavior. The present study uses a diverse sample of men (n= 88) who were mandated to participate in a batterer intervention program. Findings indicate that this sample report pathological levels of shame. Regression analyses suggest shame is significantly associated with the restrictive behavior of the perpetrator but not with authority. In turn, both restriction and authority are significantly related to coercion. These findings suggest that shame plays a role in the commission of coercively controlling behavior via restrictiveness but not authority. Implications for CC will be discussed.

Authors

• Hannah Eve Kaplenko, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Jennifer Loveland, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Chitra Raghavan, John Jay College of Criminal Justice