Patterns of Family and Nonfamily Violence: Violent Husbands and Violent Men

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between criminological and family violence approaches to the study of male violence, both domestic and nondomestic. Reasons why these two approaches have remained relatively independent are discussed, and ways of linking the two perspectives are suggested. Interview data from 85 violent husbands are analyzed and interpreted in light of their implications for family violence and criminological approaches. The data confirm the existence of three patterns of male violence—“family only,” “nonfamily only,” and “generally” violent. The patterns are found to be associated with relatively clear and distinct lifestyles, social networks, and values, which seem to reinforce the violence pattern. The authors conclude that both the family violence and criminological perspectives can provide insight into the problem of understanding violent husbands.