Female perpetrators of intimate partner violence: within-group heterogeneity, related psychopathology, and a review of current treatment with recommendations for the future

Female perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) are now beginning to receive some scholarly attention both in Canada and the United States, particularly with zero tolerance policies and the increasing number of female arrestees. This article reviews research on the relative prevalence of IPV (comparing males and females) and the context and motivation for perpetration and female perpetrators' general psychopathology (e.g., their attachment issues, trauma experiences, and personality organization). We not only examine intergroup comparisons between women and men, but also highlight some of the intragroup heterogeneity within female perpetrators of the IPV population. The aim of this review is also to describe some of current treatment approaches and provide recommendations for the future.