Citation

Dutton DG, Starzomski AJ. J. Interpers. Violence 1997; 12(1): 70-82.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/088626097012001005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Tests were conducted to determine whether the Minnesota Power and Control Wheel (MPCW), which describes eight forms of power and control tactics, constituted a syndrome of intercorrelated actions. Criterion items for the MPCW octants were derived from Tolman's Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory (PMWI) completed by assaultive and nonassaultive samples. Tests were conducted of whether certain features of the abusive personality could accurately predict various octants of the MPCW. With the exception of "using the children as pawns," all MPCW dimensions of the abuse of power and control were significantly intercorrelated, suggesting the existence of a syndrome of abuse of power and control. Personality disturbance was significantly correlated with all octants except using the children. These findings argue for a comprehensive model of abusive uses of power and control tactics integrating both social and psychological influences, rather than one that relies exclusively on either one.

Language: en