Presented at the American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences (AABSS), Las Vegas, NV. (2016). Understanding Latino perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence.

1. Mohena Moreno, MA,
& Rumiko Okada, PhD
California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University

2. ¡ Define the term “Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)” and
review the current prevalence rates as reported in the
research literature.
¡ Increase awareness on the importance of developing a
culturally-sensitive IPV typology to understand and
conceptualize Latino batterers.
¡ Discuss how socio-cultural dynamics can become both
risk-factors as well as protective factors for IPV with
Latino men.

3. ¡ “Intimate Partner” refers to spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend,
dating partner or sexual partner.
¡ Intimate Partner Violence includes any form of aggression
and/or controlling behaviors used against a current or past
intimate partner of any gender or relationship status.
¡ Includes physical, sexual violence, stalking, psychological
aggression (including coercion) by a current or past intimate
partner.
(Sources: Dixon & Graham-Kevan ,2011; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015)

4. ¡ 1 in 3 women (35.6%) in the United States have
experienced a form of violence (rape, physical violence or
stalking) by an intimate parnter in their lifetime.
¡ 1 in 4 women (24.3%) have experienced physical violence
(such as being hit with a closed fist, being beaten and
slammed) by an intimate partner.
¡ In the Latino community, 37.1% of women have been
affected by rape, physical violence or stalking.
(Source: Black, Basile, Breiding, Smith, Walters, Merrick, Chen & Stevens, 2011)

5. ¡ Incidence of IPV was reportedly the highest for Latinos of
Mexican, Central American and Caribbean origins.
¡ Latina women who are survivors of domestic violence
reportedly can experience more trauma than White/
Caucasian women (stemming from lack of social support;
minority/legal status).
¡ Reports of IPV in the Latino population are higher (ranging
from 10.5 to 17.3%) compared with rates in the Caucasian
mainstream (ranging from 3.4 to 11.6%).
(Sources: Edelson, Hokoda, & Ramos-Lira, 2007; Saez-Betacourt, Lam & Nguyen, 2008)

6. ¡ Not all men who engage in IPV are alike (i.e., are quite
heterogeneous), but there is an overlap in the “typologies”
developed by researchers to identify similar traits (i.e.,
homogeneous characteristics).
¡ Holtzworth-Munroe (1994) Typology:
§ Family-Only (FO)
§ Dysphoric or Borderline (DB)
§ Generally Violent and Antisocial (GVA)
(Sources: Cavanaugh & Gelles, 2005; Holtzworth-Munroe, 1994)

7. ¡ Historically, researchers have utilized the scales from the
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) to develop
different typologies of men who batter for the purposes
of developing better treatment programs and reduce
recidivism.
¡ However, developing a consistent and culturally-sensitive
typology for Latino men who batter is necessary because
there can be additional unique sociocultural stressors and
gender role factors that can affect Latino batterers.
(Sources: Holtzworth-Munroe, 1994; Huss & Ralston, 2008)

8. Psychopathology
Psychological
characteristics of
the batter
Socio-cultural
risk factors
(Sources: Riggs, Caulfield and Street , 2000; Alcalde, 2010; Hancock & Siu, 2009)

9. ¡ It is important to recognize that “culture” in itself does not
breed Latino men who batter.
¡ Psychological factors such as anger, jealousy, fear, lack of
control, low self-esteem, emotion dysregulation, stress,
addiction, etc., can contribute to violent acting-out
behaviors.
¡ Violence in Latino men is often symptomatic of their
“perception” that they are losing power and control within
the bigger systems of oppression outside of their home. If
they also perceive that women, on the other hand, are
gaining power and control, this dynamic can become a
triggering source for a conflictual couple relationship.
(Sources: Saez-Betacourt, Trung, & Nguyen, 2008; Brabeck & Guzman, 2009)

10. ¡ Racism, Oppression, and Discrimination
§ Perceived Discrimination
§ Microaggression
§ Lack of Power and Control
¡ Acculturative Stress
¡ Low SES/Financial Stressors
¡ Legal Status/Immigration Trauma
¡ Gender Roles
§ Machismo
§ Marianismo
¡ Lack of Mainstream Support Network
(Sources: Alcalde, 2011; Shorey, Febres, Brasfield & Stuart, 2012).

11. Personalismo Espiritualismo Familismo Fatalismo
Caballerismo Respeto
(Sources: Gonzalez-Guarda, Cummings, Becerra, Fernandez & Mesa, 2013; Cuellar, Arnold & Gonzalez ,1995;
Antshel 2002)

12. ¡ Personalismo (Personalismo): refers to the importance that
Latinos have in personal relationship and closeness.
¡ Espiritualismo (Spiritualism): refers to the emphasis Latinos have
on the spiritual world and in spirits.
¡ Familismo (Familism): refers the close relationship Latino families
maintain with immediate and extended family members.
¡ Fatalismo (Fatalism): refers the belief that one’s destiny is not
under his or her control. Some Latinos may believe that God
controls their destiny.
¡ Caballerismo (Caballerism): refers to a set of values that are
positive that include caring for one’s family, to be respectful to
people, being responsible, and noble.
¡ Respeto (Respect): refers to how Latinos treat others based on
age, gender, authority , and respect.
(Sources: Antshel,2002;Gonzalez-Guarda et al., 2013; Cuellar, Arnold & Gonzalez, 1995;
Arciniega, Anderson, Tovar-Blank, & Tracey, 2008)

13. ¡ IPV is highly influenced by culture and social structures; hence,
cultural norms, gender roles, legal/immigration status, and
societal forces can trigger and perpetuate violence.
¡ It is important to understand how immigrant/minority status
(i.e., leading to feelings of disempowerment, inadequacy,
vulnerability, helplessness, ineptness, worthlessness, etc.) in
U.S. society can perpetuate a destructive urge in Latino men to
“assert power and control” in his family. These possible
sociocultural stressors and risk factors need to be fully
assessed and taken into account when conceptualizing Latino
male batters.
(Sources: Graham-Kevan & Archer, 2003; Hancock & Siu, 2009; Dixon & Graham-Kevan, 2011)

14. ¡ Ethnocultural values can be effectively used (as protective
reinforcers) to help Latino men change and heal through
allowing him to responsively adhere to his Latino gender role
and preserve his male identity (e.g., Machismo and Caballerismo
also prescribes men to be a strong, responsible provider
through love, respect, and care towards family members).
¡ Beware not to impose Western/mainstream values and
expectations that may go against the batterer’s (and family’s)
cultural beliefs and norms. Prevention and treatment efforts
for IPV should include a thorough understanding of the
personality characteristics of the batterer, psychopathology,
and the sociocultural risk factors that can play a key role in
perpetuating Latino men to engage in IPV.
(Sources: Graham-Kevan & Archer, 2003; Hancock & Siu, 2009; Dixon & Graham-Kevan, 2011)

15. Thank you for your attention and
participation!

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Antshel, K. M. (2002). Integrating culture as a means of improving treatment adherence in the Latino population.
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Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS). 2010 Summary Report.
Edelson, M.G., Hokoda, A., Ramos-Lira, L. (2007). Differences in Effects of Domestic Violence Between Latina
and Non-Latina Women. Journal of Family Violence 22:1-10. doi: 10.1007/s10896-006-9051-1
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Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements. Retrieved January 5, 2015, from The
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