What Causes Men's Violence Against Women?

Carefully organized and tightly edited, this insightful book considers potential causes of men's violence against women, utilizing a variety of theoretical perspectives. It summarizes what is known about the multiple causes of men's violence against women and the importance of identifying men's risk factors in order to prevent future violence.

The editors' approach is unique but systematic. In chapter 2, the editors present a preliminary multivariate model that explains men's violence against women by identifying four content areas: macrosocietal, biological, gender role socialization, and relation factors. Within these four areas, the editors develop thirteen preliminary hypotheses about the causes of men's violence against women. In the subsequent chapters the contributing authors critique or react to specific parts of the multivariate model and address one or more of the 13 hypotheses in the presentation of their own ideas about the causes of men's violence against women. In the concluding chapter, the editors summarize the contributors' reactions to the original hypotheses by creating a revised multivariate model of risk factors for men's violence against women. The final model includes biological, socialization, psychological, psychosocial, relational, and macrosocietal factors. Furthermore, the model is explained through 13 theoretical propositions, 40 research hypotheses, and over 60 risk variables related to men's violence against women. The book closes with a discussion of men's protective, resiliency, and vulnerability factors as well as future directions for theory development, advocacy, and the prevention of violence against women.