Classification system of intimate partner aggression and victim responses, gender differences and association with dark personality traits and forgiveness

Aims: Intimate partner aggression is a serious public health problem. Most research presupose that there is a female victim and a male aggressor. This paper examines its relationship with dark personality traits and forgiveness for both men and women. Methods: An identification system of traumatizing events committed by the partner and reactions to these events was developed, and information was collected from 1476 adult participants, 50.4% men and 49.6% women engaged in a relationship. Results: Results indicate that the partner's negative behavior most frequently mentioned by both men and women is the violation of the pact of coexistence (i.e., disloyalty, non-support, lack of comprehension, not being able to trust the partner, infidelity, lying, betrayal, and in general, lack of communication), followed by psychological and physical ill-treatment. Moreover, compared to men, women contemplated more frequently physical and sexual aggressions and sexist behavior. A higher proportion of women also claim to have suffered these types of aggression. The results also show that women are more concerned with their partner's leaving them as a result of reporting traumatizing behaviors. Conclusions: The tendency to forgive, psychopathy, and sex are predictors of ending the relationship rather than engaging in dialogue after the partner's traumatizing behavior.