In our society, there are many beliefs and assumptions about violence against women. For professionals working in various institutions that come into contact with women experiencing violence, their children, and men who behave violently, it is crucial to understand the myths and assumptions surrounding intimate partner violence. These myths are often presented as explanations for why violence occurs, but most are based on a misunderstanding of the dynamics of abusive relationships—specifically, the dynamics of power and control.
Below, we present two common myths about the causes of violence against women and explain why they are incorrect.
Myth 1: Alcohol or drug addiction causes violence against women
Some people assume that men who abuse alcohol or drugs automatically become violent. This is not true.
Many men who drink or use drugs do not behave violently toward their partners, and many men who are violent do not use alcohol or drugs. Most women who live with a violent partner who also struggles with addiction report that
In the case of men who are violent toward their partner and also struggle with addiction, this addiction is a risk factor: under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a person may misjudge the force or intensity of a physical attack. This can result in more severe attacks, and consequently a higher risk to the life or health of the woman.
Violent behaviour under the influence of alcohol may increase the severity of attacks, but not using alcohol or drugs does not eliminate abuse, and the presence of substances simply makes violence potentially more dangerous and brutal.
The intent to control, humiliate, or intimidate a partner exists even when the violent partner is sober.
Understanding that addiction is not the cause of violence is important, because shifting responsibility onto alcohol or drugs reduces the perpetrator’s personal accountability and creates the impression that the violence “was not intentional.”
Research shows that most abusive men, even under the influence, direct their abuse selectively toward their partner or children, control it outside the home, and are able to stop when there are social consequences.
This demonstrates that it is controlled behaviour, not a “loss of control.”
Myth 2: Abusive men are mentally ill
It is often assumed that abusive men suffer from a mental illness. This is false.
Research indicates that the majority of men who commit violence against women do not have a mental disorder. Their profiles do not differ from the general population, and their violence is typically selective, directed only toward their partner or ex-partner.
As with drugs or alcohol, mental illness is not a cause of violence against women.
Abusive men often use their illness as an excuse to avoid responsibility, while the true motivation behind their behaviour is exercising power and control over their partner.
The presence of a mental disorder in an abusive partner may be a risk factor that increases the likelihood of severe harm. It is especially dangerous when an abusive partner who has a mental disorder does not receive treatment, stops treatment on his own, or changes his medication dosage. In such cases, he may misjudge or fail to control the force and intensity of an attack, potentially causing more serious injuries and increasing the woman’s risk.
On the other hand, research shows that people with mental health problems are more often victims than perpetrators of violence. This is also evident in our work: experiencing violence frequently impacts the mental health of women. Many women who experience intimate partner violence suffer from depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. When they seek psychological or psychiatric care, violent partners often use this against them, portraying them as mentally unstable or unreliable mothers. Women frequently report that their abusive partner threatens to have them institutionalized, claims no one will believe them, or threatens to take away their children.
Conclusion:
Alcohol, drugs, and mental illness are risk factors that can increase the severity of violence and the level of danger to women, but they are not its causes. Violence against women is always about power and control, not addiction or illness. Abusive men often use addiction or mental illness as an excuse to justify their behaviour.
It is particularly important that institutions responsible for protecting women and their children from violence understand these myths. If they believe them, interventions will be ineffective because they may minimize the violent behaviour, focusing instead on achieving abstinence or treating mental illness. This does not stop the violence. Moreover, it means that perpetrators of violence will not be held fully accountable for their actions.
Activities of Fenestra Counselling and Intervention Centre in 2025 are supported by the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic through the grant program for providing professional assistance to victims of crime, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic within the grant for promoting gender equality and equal opportunities, and the Košice Self-Governing Region.
Fenestra bears sole responsibility for the content of this article.
