L’objectif de cette recherche est d’évaluer chez des hommes auteurs de violences conjugales les changements intrapsychiques apportés par une prise en charge encadrée par des professionnels. La méthodologie repose sur l’administration de questionnaires relatifs à trois caractéristiques du fonctionnement psychologique de l’individu (alexithymie, dépression et impulsivité) avant le début de la thérapie en groupe de responsabilisation (T1), et à son terme (T2). Des 56 hommes ayant participé au T1, 24 ont accepté de finaliser le protocole de recherche. Les résultats indiquent une diminution de l’alexithymie et de la dépression au sein de l’échantillon. L’impulsivité reste, quant à elle, stable dans le temps. Il semble donc nécessaire d’accompagner les auteurs de violence à développer leur capacité à se représenter leurs états émotionnels ainsi que de les comprendre pour les aider à mieux réguler leur comportement.

The aim of our research was to examine the association between impulsivity, alexithymia and depression and the perpetration of physical and psychological intimate partner violence. We focused on these particular psychological characteristics in order to understand this phenomenon and its prevention and/or treatment. Our initial study of fifty-six male perpetrators showed domestic violence was associated with a high level of alexithymia and depression. Analyses showed they reported more depressive feelings, and more difficulties to express their emotions than did general population. To determine if reductions were noted about these psychological characteristics at the end of intervention program, the present study examined longitudinal data.

Twenty-four male offenders (voluntary or judicialized) were surveyed using self-report questionnaires and structured clinical interview to collect sociodemographic data and to assess specific psychological variables, namely emotional distress (Beck Depression Inventory), impulsive behavior (Barratt Impulsivity Scale 11) and alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20), the inability to experience and express subjective emotions. These men were examined before the start of therapeutic program (T1) and at the end of it (T2), after 42hours of psychological support.

Findings showed both alexithymia and depression were reduced after therapeutic management. Analyses showed male intimate partner violence offenders reported less difficulty to express their emotions and less depressive feelings at the end of their intervention program. However, we only observe a significant result for alexithymia and its dimension “difficulties identifying feelings”. Impulsivity, on the other side, remains unchanged between the two evaluation times for all participants after the therapeutic program.

Our findings suggested a strong link between alexithymia and domestic violence and showed the positive effect of specific therapeutic interventions on alexithymia and depression. We pointed out the fact that with the decrease of alexithymia, participants may have a better awareness of themselves and of their behavior. In conclusion, it is encouraging to note that specific treatment programs increase awareness about the problem of intimate partner violence.