Female Domestic Violence Offenders: Their Attachment Security, Personality Organization and Trauma Symptomology

This study sought to establish whether a female domestic violence offender group (FOG) differed significantly from a clinical comparison group (CCG) in: attachment security, personality organization, and trauma symptomology. It was hypothesized that the FOG would be less securely attached, would have more cluster B personality traits, and would experience more trauma symptoms. Thirty-three participants were domestic violence offenders recruited from agencies providing 52-week group treatment in San Diego County. A comparison sample of 32 women, were recruited from the same agencies and from privately practicing therapist. Statistical analysis supported all three hypotheses (with partial support for the second hypothesis regarding personality organization). The FOG reported more insecure attached than the comparison women as gauged by the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire Revised. The FOG scored significantly higher than the CCG on the MCMI III on borderline, dependent and antisocial subscales. They did not however, score higher on histrionic and narcissistic subscales. Finally, the FOG reported significantly more trauma symptomology as measures by the total trauma score on the Trauma Symptom Inventory.