The nature of irrational beliefs in different personality clusters of spouse abusers

Previous research has shown that a majority of spouse abusers have personality characteristics which are consistent with personality disorder and show symptoms of depression and anger expression. Irrational beliefs have been associated with the same emotions in nonabuser populations. The current study assessed the nature of irrational beliefs in a sample of spouse abusers. The results showed that abusers with personality disorder held more irrational beliefs than abusers without personality disorder. Labile symptoms were associated with three categories of irrational beliefs only in the abusers with personality disorder. The implications for the characterization of spouse abusers and the modification of spouse abuse are discussed.Jeffrey M. Lohr, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. His research interests are in the assessment of irrational beliefs and their association with dysphoric motivational statesL. Kevin Hamberger, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Family Practice Department of the Medical College of Wisconsin. His clinical and research interests are in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of male spouse abusers.Dennis Bonge, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. His research and teaching interests are in multivariate analysis and the assessment of irrational beliefsPortions of this paper presented at the 33rd Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA, March, 1987.This research was supported by the Marie Wilson Howells Fund.