Purpose: Although most women charged with domestic violence use violence in self-defense or in response to prior abuse, the behavior and attitudes of a minority of women identify them as primary aggressors.  The goal of the study is to compare the motivations and attitudes of female primary aggressors with those of male offenders to determine similarities and differences in counseling and prevention needs.

Methods: A cross sectional survey design was implemented, consisting of a written questionnaire administered in a group setting. The sample consisted of English-speaking participants in batterer intervention counseling in Los Angeles, California. Approximately 30% of the sample possessed traits identifying them as primary aggressors, including using violence to control or dominate a partner.

Findings: While female primary aggressors are similar to males in their motivation for using violence, many differences exist in attitudes and violent behaviors. Females report using more severe forms of violence than males, often including weapons.  However, women also report feeling more fearful and powerless than male aggressors.  These feelings may be due to mutually occurring violence in the relationship or significantly higher levels of abuse in childhood, which may result in hyper-vigilance regarding threats to her personal power.  However, female primary aggressor report a desire to feel powerful and in control of partners and family members, resorting to emotional, physical and sexual abuse to achieve this goal.

Implications: Despite similarities in the motivations of female primary aggressors to males, needs in batterer intervention counseling may be quite different.  Many popular models of intervention are based in feminist theories of violence, embedding abuse in societal and personal patriarchy.  These models may not adequately describe the root causes of female-perpetrated domestic violence.  Therefore, while behavioral and cognitive approaches to reduce violence may be helpful, the theoretical foundations of batterer intervention with females must be reconsidered.