Intimate Partner Violence and Homicide

Abstract

Violence between partners is not a new phenomenon, although attitudes towards it have changed considerably over time. As early as the 8th century B.C., the laws of marriage in Rome stated that a husband had the right to control and punish his wife as he saw fit, including killing her if necessary (Hirschel & Hutchinson, 1992; Stedman, 1917). This view remained for centuries in Europe and was adopted by the church, which subsequently brought the acceptance of spousal abuse to the New World (Hirschel & Hutchinson, 1992). After the mid 1800's, courts began to reject the right of men to physically abuse their wives, but upheld their right to physically punish them as long as it left no permanent injury. Courts believed that this moderate violence was a private matter that should be left in the home, outside of the law (Taub, 1983). This selective attention to the issue, although no longer completely held in a legal sense, has remained. This chapter examines intimate partner violence including homicide between intimates. In order to garner the necessary background, a brief description of what this type of violence is, as well as how often it occurs, will be provided. Next, the possible explanations for why this type of violence is so prevalent will be undertaken, followed by an in depth discussion of the various types of violence which may be present in these relationships along with the related issues. Finally, intimate partner homicide as a type of intimate violence will be addressed, with explanations of the motivations behind these lethal behaviors and the differences between men and women being discussed. It is the goal of this chapter to squash any myths or preconceived theories held about this type of violence, and to present a more realistic view of the dynamics of these relationships.