Criminal Thinking in a Sample of Men and Women Attending a Multi-Site Batterer Intervention Program

Abstract

The study investigated differences and similarities in criminal thinking between men and women attending a multi-site Batterer Intervention Program (BIP). Overall, rates of criminal thinking were low. However, the results of the multivariate analyses suggest that, after controlling for demographic characteristics (i.e., race, ethnicity, education, SES) and personal experiences (i.e., prior convictions, mental health problems, substance abuse, experience of abuse) female participants significantly differed from men in patterns of Power Orientation. If replicated by other studies, especially studies that use larger samples of women enrolled in BIPs, these findings may contribute to identifying rehabilitation programs that best address women’s needs.