Here’s a table of typical high‑risk perpetrator traits + how they may manifest “behind the scenes,” based on European/Spanish research. You can use this as a checklist or reference.
| Trait / Risk Factor | How It Can Manifest (Behind the Scenes) | Research Reference |
|---|---|---|
| History of Childhood Violence / Witnessing Abuse | Grew up in a home with violence, learned controlling behaviours; may have poor conflict skills. | Study of Spanish male perpetrators linking childhood family violence with IPV frequency. imrpress.com+2SpringerLink+2 |
| Access to or Use of Weapons / Threats to Kill | Keeps a weapon at home, implicitly threatens harm rather than openly shows it; victim may report feeling “in danger of being killed.” | Spanish study of homicide‑risk in gender violence: 13 risk factors significantly associated with homicide. SciELO España+1 |
| Repeated Breaches of Protective Orders / Restraining Orders | Abuser ignores court‑orders or restraining orders, contacts victim anyway, monitors them secretly. | Studies indicating breaches escalate risk. SpringerLink |
| Stalking, Surveillance, Obsession, Coercive Control | Checks the victim’s phone, monitors their comings/goings, isolates them socially, controls finances, behind closed doors shows “perfect façade” publicly. | Spanish study: coercive control tactics present in ~85% of femicide cases in Spain. SpringerLink |
| Charm / Public “Victim” Persona / Playing Frail or Helpless | Acts publicly as stressed, ill, or weak; uses it to minimise suspicion, gain sympathy; privately uses control and threat. | Typology study: many perpetrators don’t appear “monster‑like” to outsiders. PMC+1 |
| Substance Abuse, Mental Health Issues, Impulsivity | Drinking, drugs or mood instability amplify risk; impulsive rages; may hide this from others. | Spanish research on personality and psychopathology among IPV perpetrators. PMC+1 |
| Pattern of Escalation / Severity Over Time | Abuse gets more frequent or severe; threats increase, weapons may appear; victim senses “it’s getting worse”. | Spanish risk‑assessment research shows escalation is a danger marker. SciELO España+1 |
| Children as Targets, Witnesses or Leverage | Abuser uses children to threaten victim (e.g., “I’ll take the kids”, “They’ll suffer”), monitors children’s activities. | Research highlights children’s involvement increases risk. SpringerLink |
| Entitlement / Narcissistic Traits / Fragile Ego | Expects compliance; reacts badly when control is lost; denies blame, shifts responsibility; may say “everyone else is against me”. | Typology study categorised “generally violent/antisocial” group with antisocial traits. uvadoc.uva.es+1 |
✅ How You Can Use This Checklist
- When you recognise several of these traits together, you are justified in treating the situation as high risk rather than assuming this “won’t happen”.
- Keep documentation of behaviours: tracking changes, threats, surveillance, contact, breaches.
- Share relevant points with your lawyer, support worker or police so they understand the pattern (not just isolated incidents).
- Use the insight that “abusers don’t always look like abusers” — the charm or public façade doesn’t reduce risk.
