Talking Violent

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze battering men's intrapersonal and interpersonal worlds by studying the metaphors they use. The sample included 27 men who had physically abused their cohabiting partners at least once during the year preceding data collection. Data were collected using a semistructured qualitative interview guide. Content analysis yielded three major content categories for organizing the findings: (a) conflict and violence expressed in war metaphors; (b) metaphors presenting the self as a dangerous inner space and as the locus of inner struggles; and (c) metaphors of deescalation and balancing. The findings indicated that the metaphoric language of violent men is meaningful in helping us to understand the structure of their violent behaviors.