Male violence : why do men batter?

Abstract

This long essay is an exploration of male violence against women. The purpose of this work is to identify the major contributory factors towards male violence with a view to helping violent men establish healthy intimate relationships and creating a safer environment for women. The results of the study indicate that low self-esteem and poor communication skills are prevalent characteristics of men who batter. The most influential factors which contributed towards the violent behaviour were identified to be the presence of violence in the family of origin, strong patriarchal attitudes and low social control. Although therapeutic programmes can contribute towards bringing about the desired change, various cultural norms and beliefs must be addressed in order to begin to interrupt the cycle of violence.