Some studies have focused exclusively on abusive men to identify common characteristics. In addition to their exposure to DV as children, they tend to portray a rigid sex role stereotype that calls for a great need for power and control. These men have low self-esteem and suffer from depression. They use rationalization to deny and minimize their problems. Some meet the criteria for personality disorders.

Violence used to resolve a crisis of male identity may stem from personal childhood exposure to DV and/or the surrounding culture. Violence as a social norm may prevail in societies where men have recently lost, or are losing, their ability to control and economically support women. The societal approval of violence comes from a mixture of:

• efforts of men to regain control,
• release of power that is denied expression in other ways, and
• simply as an explosion of frustration and anger.

The "endabuse.org" website has information on predictors of domestic violence homicide of women.

Be prepared to answer a question about the strongest predictors of female homicide in abuse relationships.