2005 issue 3

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Volume 14, issue 3

Review article

The countenances of female violence

Marta Makara-Studzińska1, Anna Grzywa1, RENATA TUREK1
1. Katedra i Klinika Psychiatrii Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie
Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii 2005; 14 (3): 195-204
Keywords: violence, male aggressor, female aggressor, children

Abstract

Objective. This article reviews the available data on violence in women and analyses causes, prevalence and offender characteristics.

Review. The frequency of violence towards one 's partner is similar in men and women but the patterns of violent behaviour differ. Violence in intimate relations is found in every social stratum, geographical latitude and culture. The view that men are aggressive and women are helpless is not true. Women usually resort to physical aggression as acts of self-defence or out of revenge for the man 's attack. Most of the violence offemale offenders is directed towards their children as the more accessible and less resistant victims.

Conclusions. Female violence which is mainly directed against men is becoming an increasingly frequent phenomenon although it is less well documented than male violence against women. The preferred mode of female violence against men is psychological violence. Compared with men, women direct their violence against children much more frequently.

Address for correspondence:
Dr Marta Makara-Studzińska, ul. Mickiewicza 28 m. 5, 20-371 Lublin, e-mail: mmakara@go2.pl