Differentiating patterns of aggression in the family
| Date | 29 January 2010 |
| Pages | 32-44 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/jacpr.2010.0003 |
| Published date | 29 January 2010 |
| Author | Louise Dixon,Kevin Browne,Catherine Hamilton‐Giachritsis,Eugene Ostapuik |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
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10.5042/jacpr.2010.0003
Introduction
There is a great deal of empirical support for
the co-occurrence of intimate partner and child
maltreatment within the family (Bowen, 2000; Cox
et al, 2003; Hayzen et al3LEP/,EARY
2005). Researchers have highlighted co-occurrence
rates of 30–60% (Edleson, 1999), 46–53% (Browne
& Hamilton, 1999) and 40%, using a conservative
definition of child abuse (Appel & Holden, 1998).
In addition to co-occurrence, the risk factors
identified for each form of family maltreatment
OVERLAPCONSIDERABLY3LEP/,EARY
However, despite this evidence, the majority of
studies examine the aetiology, maintenance and
intervention of partner and child maltreatment
separately, treating them as discrete entities.
Resultantly, services and interventions for partner
and child maltreatment remain distinct enterprises
3LEP/,EARY
Historically, different theoretical perspectives
have been proposed to account for the aetiology
of intimate partner violence in comparison to
the more traditional theoretical approaches to
aggression and family violence. The feminist
perspective (Pence & Paymar, 1993) has been
very influential in understanding the aetiology
of intimate partner violence. While it has greatly
Differentiating patterns of
aggression in the family
Louise Dixon
Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
Kevin Browne
Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, University of Nottingham, UK
Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis
Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
Eugene Ostapuik
Forensic Psychology Practice, The Willows Clinic, Birmingham, UK
ABS TR AC T
The feasibility and prevalence of reciprocal, hierarchical and paternal patterns of family
aggression hypothesised by Dixon and Browne (2003) were explored within a sample of
maltreating families. The psychological reports of 67 families referred to services for alleged
child maltreatment that evidenced concurrent physical intimate partner violence and child
maltreatment were investigated. Of these, 29 (43.3%) cases were characterised by hierarchical
patterns, 28 (41.8%) by reciprocal patterns and 10 (14.9%) by paternal patterns. Significant
differences in the form of child maltreatment perpetrated by mothers and fathers and
parent dyads living in different patterns were found. In hierarchical sub-patterns, fathers
were significantly more likely to have been convicted for a violent and/or sexual offence
than mothers and were significantly less likely to be biologically related to the child. The
findings demonstrate the existence of the different patterns in a sample of families involved
in the child care protection process in England and Wales, supporting the utility of a holistic
approach to understanding aggression in the family.
KEY WOR DS
Family aggression; family violence; intimate partner violence; child maltreatment; domestic
violence.
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