Michael Johnson, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Penn State University – has done extensive research and has proposed that there are three major types of intimate partner violence (IPV) which differ dramatically from each other – in their dynamics, their development and their consequences.
Understanding his “typology of domestic violence” is important for a number of reasons including being able to better address claims that men are victimized at an equal rate by intimate partner violence as women are.
While we know gender-based violence has no boundaries, and can affect anyone and everyone, we also know that the frequency, severity and nature of violence perpetrated by men on women is different than the reverse.
Understanding the variables involved in how gender-based violence can present is also essential in any meaningful efforts to prevent and address it.
Johnson’s 3 Major Types of IPV:
· Intimate Terrorism – patterns of violent coercive control, perpetrated predominantly by men;
· Violent Resistance – perpetrated while resisting violence, perpetrated more by women in self-defence;
· Situation Couple Violence – escalates from argument to physical aggression, occurs between couples.
To learn more about the Typology of Domestic Violence and why it’s important, check out his lecture on youtube.