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14 J. Fam. Violence 1 (1999)

handle is hein.journals/jfamv14 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Family Violence, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1999 MCMI-III Results for Batterer Program Participants in Four Cities: Less Pathological Than Expected Edward W. Gondolfl Previous research using diagnostic inventories describe the extent and nature of psychopathology among batterers. MCMI-III scores from batterers in a multisite program evaluation (n = 840) were used to replicate this previous research. As in previous batterer research using the MCMI-I and MCMI-II, the MCMI-III results suggest a complex diversity of psychological problems that does not readily conform to previous profiles. Howeve, less than half of the men had scores suggesting a personality disorder (BR scores > 85), as opposed to 80% in a previous batterer study using the MCMI-II. Only one quarter of the men (25%) show evidence of a severe mental disorder Narcissistic or antisocial tendencies were evident in 39% of our batterer sample, reflecting the sense of entitlement often attributed to batterers. Voluntary, as opposed to court-referred men, were more likely to have depressive and dependent tendencies and evidence of severe disorders. Our multisite sample appears to be less pathological than previous batterer samples and samples of psychiatric or drug outpatients. KEY WORDS: batterers; psychopathology; MCMI; spouse abuse. The psychopathology of men who batter women has drawn increasing attention in recent years. Some clinical researchers have called for more ex- tensive psychological assessment of batterers and treatment of specific psy- chological disorders in batterer programs (Geffner, 1995; Saunders, 1993). Previous personality tests with batterer program participants suggest that the majority of batterers show evidence of personality disorders, but a diversity of personality traits and disorders (Beasley and Stoltenberg, 1992; Hamberger 'Mid-Atlantic Addiction Training Institute, 1098 Oakland Avenue, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705. 1 0885.7482/99/0300-0001$16.0010 0 1999 Plenum Publishing Corporation