Aggression and maltreatment in couple relationships: intimate partner violence

This chapter provides a primer on intimate partner violence (IPV). We begin by highlighting the definitional challenges associated with operationalizing IPV, including variations in terminology and varying requirements for intent, pattern of behavior, and harm. We emphasize evidence-based criteria used by the DSM-5, ICD-11, CDC, and US Department of Defense that include both acts (physical, psychological/emotional, and sexual) and impacts (harm or reasonable potential for harm) of IPV. Next, we summarize the most influential theoretical models of IPV, including feminist, cognitive-behavioral, attachment, neurobiological, and integrative (meta-theoretical) models. We then cover central empirical findings on prevalence, consequences, and risk and protective factors of IPV at individual, relationship, and community levels. We conclude by highlighting the most important gaps, including IPV as a single phenomenon vs. multiple typologies, isolating unique effects among ecological levels, and developmental course, and we discuss emerging areas and future directions.