Domestic Violence, Behavior Change Programs, Positive and Negative Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Objective: Despite considerable investments, the effectiveness of domestic violence (DV) interventions varies, with shelters for battered women acknowledged for their success and programs targeting abusers considered less effective. A feminist philosophy that views DV as an expression of men’s attempt to uphold gender dominance through control and coercion underlies most DV initiatives. While hundreds of battered women historically have contributed their experience to this viewpoint, that of their abusers mostly remains unsolicited. This is a crucial knowledge gap, with abusers best able to contribute insight into their motivations and help design effective interventions. This scoping review explores the involvement of perpetrators in DV research and behavior change programs. Method: The databases CINAHL, Medline, APA PsycInfo, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were searched for male offender, domestic violence, behavior change, and positive and negative outcome and their synonyms. Studies were included if they (a) targeted a population of adult partner-violent males within a heterosexual relationship; (b) examined proximal variables, such as attitudes and well-being; and (c) involved behavior change programs. Results: Out of 52 studies identified between 1987 and 2023, making up less than 0.2% of all DV research, findings were mixed. Nomothetic studies failed to conclusively determine the causes of domestic violence or propose significant intervention strategies. Conversely, idiographic studies highlighted the complexity of individual relationship issues contributing to violence, suggesting the value of incorporating perpetrators’ perspectives in prevention efforts. Conclusions: The review proposes a two-step approach refocusing research on DV perpetrators’ views to bridge the knowledge gap and enhance intervention strategies.