Men Authors of Violence Against Women

A Descriptive Study

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and understand individual and family risk factors for the perpetuation of violence, through a descriptive cross-sectional study. Eight men who were responding to a lawsuit filed under the Maria da Penha Law participated in this study. The results showed a history of maltreatment in childhood, perception of reciprocity of violence among the couple, agreement with legitimating beliefs of conjugal violence, expression of maladaptive anger, as well as use of substances. Identifying risk factors that are part of maintaining intimate partner violence enables effective interventions to be created. Interventions should focus on learning strategies for the regulation of emotions, such as anger, as well as the restructuring of legitimizing beliefs of gender violence.