Batterers are a very diverse group. A batterer can be anyone from any neighborhood, family background, profession, religion, or age group. There isn't any way to accurately characterize who is or will be a batterer. However, there are some factors that, either by themselves or in combination, tend to make it more likely that a man will be abusive. Such as:

Emotional and Psychological Factors

• low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence
• depression or other mental illnesses
• difficulty handling stress or frustration
• fear of intimacy
• emotional volatility or extreme moodiness
• angers easily and can't control it
• an insatiable need to control
• denial or minimization of problems or underlying psychological issues
• feelings of alienation
• antisocial personality
• alcohol or drug abuse or dependence

Interpersonal Factors

• poor communication skills
• inability to express affection
• possessiveness and jealousy
• negative attitude toward women
• defensiveness
• dependency and attachment problems
• lack of a social support network
• frequently or always blames other people or circumstances for his problems

A History Of

• battering/abusing previous partners
• being abused or witnessing family violence as a child
• using a weapon
• abusing children or pets
• unstable relationships or lack of relationships
• getting into fights or other generalized aggression
• agression as a child or teenager

Environmental, Situational, and Other Factors

• unemployment or underemployment
• isolation
• recent separation or divorce
• lack of problem solving skills
• child custody dispute
• history of verbal abusiveness
• partner's threats of separation or divorce
• feeling like they are being controlled or oppressed at work or by economic, social, or educational factors