Article Intimate Partner Violence Typology and Treatment: A Brief Literature Review

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant problem in society today. Many approaches have been taken to address the issue and treat the individual or couple. Gottman et al. published groundbreaking research aimed at classifying batterers based on heart rate reactivity. Their finding, that batterers may differ in type, is part of a wealth of recent research leading toward more effective treatment of IPV. Researchers have recently brought about many considerations to the way IPV can be classified and effectively treated by mental health professionals. The purpose of this article is to follow the developments of Gottman and others, as IPV research and treatment has grown over the past 17 years. Keywords intimate partner violence, Gottman, characterological violence, situational violence Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread problem in the United States. An estimated 1.3 million females are victims of physical assault each year by an intimate partner (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). Gottman et al. (1995) published groundbreaking research regarding IPV as differentiated by batterer physiology. These authors found that two subtypes of batterers could be distinguished by heart rate and that interventions for one type may not be effective for the other. Findings included Type 1 batterers whose heart rates lower during altercations and who act from a preemptive desire to control their spouse, and Type 2 batterers whose heart rate rises during altercations and who act from a stance of losing control of themselves emotionally and physically. Gottman’s research was conducted parallel to other studies that suggested a separation of IPV typology based more on partner relations rather than batterer type alon