The Role of Self-Control in Predicting Intimate Partner Violence Specialization in an Australian Community Sample

Abstract

Purpose: This study builds on knowledge of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration by examining theoretically important aspects of this crime within an Australian community sample. More specifically, the current study examines the relationship between IPV offenders’ levels of self-control and offense specialization and determines whether this relationship differs by gender. Method: An online survey advertised on social media yielded an analysis sample of 155 females and 170 males. Self-control was measured using the Brief Self-Control scale and specialization was measured with the Offense Specialization Coefficient (OSC) and a multilevel item response theory measurement approach. Results: Findings indicate that IPV offenders with low levels of self-control are more versatile in their offending and that this relationship was more evident and pronounced for females. Conclusions: Findings are mostly supportive of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime and highlight important differences within IPV offender populations that should be considered when designing targeted prevention and intervention methods.