Treatment-Induced Changes in Undercontrolled and Overcontrolled Anger Subtypes of Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence and 5-Year Recidivism

Abstract

This study examines different types of partner-violent males based on anger profiles. A cluster analysis of 483 self-reports completed by partner-violent men using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2) identified two clusters of Undercontrolled and Overcontrolled anger profiles. The Undercontrolled men presented with higher pre-intervention scores than Overcontrolled men on Borderline Personality Organization, psychopathic traits, impulsiveness, physical aggression, verbal aggression, alcohol use, and partner-abusive behavior. Following completion of a cognitive-behavioral therapy program, there was a significant reduction in intimate partner violence for both subtypes, although Undercontrolled individuals continued to present more frequent psychological aggression and dominant and jealous tactics. Recidivism was predicted by pretreatment levels of hostility and treatment completion. Men with greater pretreatment to posttreatment changes in anger control were less likely to recidivate at 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment. The results suggest that perpetrators with different profiles would benefit from different types of intervention.