Toward an interactional perspective on intimate partner violence

Abstract

This article aims to provide the basis for shifting the research attention in the study of intimate partner violence (IPV) from the individual perspective (violent behavior) toward an interpersonal one (interactions in which violent behaviors emerge). The first part of the article examines critically the prevalent approaches and theoretical frameworks in the field. Based on the main findings in the first part, the second part proposes an integrative model that describes and maps the basic constituents of IPV from an individual and behavioral perspective. The model includes four levels of reference: One focuses mainly on the violent behavior, the second addresses the situation in which violence emerges, the third level focuses on the relationship between the parties, and the forth level refers to the socio-cultural context of the relationship. The discussion reveals many drawbacks to the widespread unit of observation on which the model is based and therefore the third and final part of the article proposes an interactional approach to the study of IPV.

Introduction

Discussion of human violence in general, and in specific contexts in particular, calls for a thorough examination of the meaning attributed to the term violence. This is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for generating a comprehensive, consistent, and integrative body of knowledge for understanding and coping with one of the most urgent social problems in many societies. Although the meaning of violence seems obvious, a deeper investigation of the inter- and intra-disciplinary discussion among professionals produces limited agreement. The disagreement penetrates and affects various areas of interest. A typical example is the violence of men against their intimate female partners. The reference to the sex of those involved in the conflict is an expression of the perception that among intimate partners the violence of men against women is significantly different than similar actions by women against men. Often men's violence against their intimate partners is referred to as a special case of violence against women (violence that women encounter in various environments, not only in the home but also in such places as the street and the workplace), or as a special case of domestic violence, more specifically as violence against women in the family, which often serves as a synonym for intimate partner relationships (IPV). These are not merely semantics; it is part of a vast problem involving ideologies, perspectives, theories, and methodologies of studying violence, perpetrators, and victims.

The importance in setting boundaries to any phenomenon is first and foremost to distinguish it from others. These distinctions have extensive ramifications for the definition, study, and understanding of the phenomenon. For instance, in the field of violence, these boundaries are manifested already in the names of the journals addressing its various aspects: Violence Against Women, Family Violence, Violence and Victims, Interpersonal Violence, Aggressive Behavior. These names express the journal's identity and its unique approach to the issue. Taken together, these names attest to the multiple ways in which violence is framed, perceived, and approached. The disparity and competition between definitions of men's violence against their spouses hinders the ability to compare and integrate knowledge derived from various studies and retards the development of a comprehensive body of knowledge.

Much had been said and written about the importance of adopting an acceptable standardized definition of violence, but this objective has not yet been achieved (DeKeseredy, 2000, Gordon, 2000, Kilpatrick, 2004). This article aims to provide the theoretical and operational basis for shifting research attention in the study of IPV from an individual perspective (violent behavior) to an interpersonal one (interactions in which violent behaviors emerge). The first part of the article contains a critical examination of prevalent approaches in the field. The second part proposes an integrative model that describes and maps the basic constituents of the phenomenon. The third and final part proposes an interactional approach to studying and coping with IPV.