Gender-violence, dyadic-violence, and dyadic concordance types: A conceptual and methodological alternative to Hamby (2016) that incorporates both the gendered and dyadic interaction aspects of violence to enhance research and the safety of women.
Published online on March 31, 2016
Abstract
Part 1 evaluates Hamby’s (2016) Partner Victimization Scale (PVS) and concludes that it fails to identify cases of female PV and lacks validity. Part 2 evaluates Hamby’s results as if they were correct and shows women perpetrated 2/3 as much partner violence (PV) as men and that it is frequent and a serious problem needing immediate attention. Part 3 describes a mode of conceptualization and data analysis called Dyadic Concordance Types (DCTs), which measures PV at the couple level rather than the individual perpetrator level, by classifying couples as Male-Only, Female-Only, and Both assaulted. Reviews of more than 50 studies found about half of couples are in the Both assaulted category, about a quarter Male-Only, as well as Female-Only. This applies to treatment-involved cases, to data provided by women and men, moderate and severe forms of physical violence, and regardless of the instrument used to measure physical assault. DCTs provide a more realistic and comprehensive assessment of PV because they take into account both gendered and dyadic interaction aspects of PV and both victimization and perpetration. Identifying the DCTs of cases in research or interventions is a practical step to enhance research and increase the effectiveness of services by directing attention to analyzing and treating PV as a couple problem, while also identifying sole-perpetrators. It is likely to be especially helpful in reducing violence against women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)