Neuropsychological Correlates of Anger-Reactivity, Physical Aggression, and Emotional Abuse among Partner-Violent Men

Prior research has demonstrated that relatively poor neuropsychological functioning is correlated with perpetration of intimate partner violence. The current study builds upon these findings by examining the functional significance of executive functioning and impulsivity among partner-violent men. Eighty partner-violent men were recruited at a domestic violence agency in Baltimore, Maryland. They completed a brief neuropsychological assessment battery, self-report questionnaires assessing anger and abusive behaviors, and an assessment of distorted and irrational thinking derived from the Articulated Thoughts during Simulated Situations (ATSS) paradigm. It was hypothesized that relatively poorer neuropsychological functioning in the realms of executive functioning and impulsivity would have significant positive associations with anger-reactivity, cognitive distortions, and irrational beliefs expressed during the ATSS assessment. It was also hypothesized that relatively poorer neuropsychological functioning would have significant positive associations with anger expression and general hostility, and negative associations with anger control. With regard to abuse, it was hypothesized that poorer neuropsychological functioning would have a significant positive association with levels of physical assault and psychological aggression. A moderate to strong relation was found between relatively poorer executive functioning and increased levels of both cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs expressed during the ATSS cognitive assessment. Relatively poorer executive functioning was found to have a moderate relation with increased levels of anger-reactivity, defined as the change in state anger from pre to post ATSS assessment. Relatively poorer executive functioning was also found to have a small to moderate positive relation with anger expression and general hostility. Increased impulsivity was found to have a moderate relation with cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs, and a small to moderate relation with increased anger-reactivity. No significant association was found between neuropsychological functioning and anger control. In addition, no significant associations were found between neuropsychological functioning and self-reported levels of physical or psychological abuse. The present study provides evidence that relatively poorer neuropsychological functioning among IPV perpetrators is associated with both cognitive and affective processing of negative relationship stimuli, as well as anger expression difficulties and general hostility. Clinical implications, study limitations, and directions for future research are discussed