Season 1 Episode 11: Getting Inside the Mind of Men Who Use Violence

About This Episode

In this podcast, David and Ruth explore the psychology behind men who use violence and abuse. They examine how different forms of entitlement create justifications for coercive control and how the emotional driver behind abuse may not be anger but rather avoidance of feelings of fear and powerlessness.

The discussion covers several key factors that perpetuate abusive behavior: the perpetrator’s refusal to accept responsibility for the damage they cause; how structural inequalities and cultural norms sustain patterns of abuse; and the complex role of substance abuse and mental health issues, which require treatment but should never excuse a perpetrator’s choice to harm their partner, children, and family.

David also outlines how practitioners, family members, and friends can use this psychological profile to guide their interventions with perpetrators, offering practical approaches for addressing abusive behavior at its source.