A descriptive-empirical investigation of both angry physically violent and separate angry nonphysically violent expressions by males towards their female partners

This dissertation examined reports of angry physically violent and separate angry non-physically violent expressions by males towards their female partners. Three male domestic violence offenders were interviewed on two occasions each. One interview for each man focused on an angry physically violent incident, and one interview on an angry but non-physically violent incident towards a female partner. The researcher asked each participant to describe fully all aspects of his lived experience at those times. The researcher then performed a modified phenomenological psychological analysis using the method of Giorgi (1985).;The specific structures that emerged were transformed into general structures for angry physically violent expressions and for angry nonphysically violent expressions. The general structure for angry nonphysically violent expressions showed that the man believes there is an emotionally crucial relationship between himself and his partner. A situation arises in which the man experiences his inability to control a personally threatening impactful aspect of what is transpiring. His body is transformed while emerged in anger. Experiences include increased heart beat and psychomotor agitation. Agitated behaviors atypical of a non-angry mode occur. The man may try to restrict overtly aggressive responses, which he evaluates as unwarranted. Concurrently he may express angry behaviors. While angry his phenomenological world changes. His focus narrows into one dominated by a currently perceived threat and his efforts to counter it. Within this narrowed focus there occurs altered negative reevaluation of others, specifically his partner. The anger persists until the world is changed to his liking or until his focus shifts away from the situation. The general structures for angry physically violent expressions were similar but showed a more radical negative transformation of perception of the situation and of his partner, preceding the eruption of physical violence. Specifically his partner is transformed from a loved partner with whom he is an ongoing relationship into a depersonalized enemy immediately threatening his sense of value and worth.;The results of this study were contrasted with existing theories of violence, and were most supportive of Berkowitz's theory of violence. Implications for treatment were discussed.