Batterer Program Participants Who Repeatedly Reassault

Abstract

Approximately 20% of batterer program participants repeatedly reassault their partners despite intervention. Previous typology and personality research suggests that these men tend to be antisocial and psychopathic. Using recommended criteria for the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Version III (MCMI-III), the personality profiles of 580 men who did not reassault their partners, reassaulted once, and repeatedly reassaulted during a 15-month follow-up were grouped. The majority (60%) of the “repeat reassaulters” show no serious personality dysfunction or psychopathology. Only 11% have profiles suggesting conventional or primary psychopathic disorder. The broadest conception of psychopathy, including secondary psychopathy and both psychopathic disorder and style, applies to 54% of the repeaters. There is no significant difference among the reassault types for personality dysfunction, psychopathic disorder, or personality type, but a significantly greater portion of repeaters shows some psychopathic tendency. The findings contradict overgeneralizations about high risk batterers and imply that batterer counseling may be appropriate for many of them.