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Thin Line Between Love and Hate?: Black Men as Victims and Perpetrators of Dating Violence

NCJ Number
223999
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: 2008 Pages: 238-257
Author(s)
Carolyn M. West
Date Published
2008
Length
20 pages
Annotation
After conducting a literature review, this article discusses African-American men as both victims and perpetrators of dating violence, risk factors related to vulnerability of African-American men to dating violence, research limitations and future direction, and prevention and intervention programs.
Abstract
It is clear that there is a great deal of violence and sadness in the lives of some African-American couples. For this reason, it is imperative that these intimate partners work with advocates, therapists, community members, and other stakeholders to develop more appropriate conflict resolution strategies and create more healthy relationships. The marriage rates for African-Americans have been dropping since the 1960s, and today they have the lowest marriage rate of any racial group in the United States. As the marriage rate drops among African-Americans, the rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) and homicide among African-American unmarried intimates have increased. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to review the literature and discuss (a) African-American men as victims of dating violence, (b) African-American men as perpetrators of dating violence, (c) risk factors that make African-Americans vulnerable to dating violence, (d) limitations and future research directions, and (e) suggestions for prevention and intervention. References