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Reading 3 min.
in collaboration with
Amélie Boukhobza (Clinical Psychologist)
On August 16, a tragic incident took place in Perpignan. During an argument, a man was stabbed to death. But the perpetrator of the blows was none other than his partner. Can women be as violent as men? We asked our psychologist.
The domestic dispute turned into a tragedy. Last Friday, in the city of Perpignan, the police intervened in an apartment after a report. They discovered a 26-year-old man, fatally wounded by a knife, lying on the ground. But, unusually, it was the young man’s partner who had struck the blows.
Several blows to the chest when her partner mentions a breakup
The couple was not, however, accustomed to domestic violence, and the young man and the woman were not known to the authorities. According to initial evidence, the perpetrator stabbed her partner several times in the chest, during an argument, while the victim was planning to break up. He was rushed to hospital, but was seriously injured, and succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards. An unusual pattern in domestic murders, since we rarely hear of women “killing” their spouses. But what does this fact say? Is female violence as dangerous as that of spouses towards their wives?
Women who commit murder have always existed
For Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, female violence is, it is true, less discussed, but it exists: women can also be the cause of violent acts, including murderous ones, contrary to the usual stereotypes.
“Although statistically less frequent than that of men, female violence does indeed exist. The dynamics that lead to it are often complex, influenced by various factors, sometimes common to men: history of trauma, mental disorders, or situations of extreme stress – as was the case in this tragic dispute in Perpignan. But there are also elements specific to the female context, such as complex relational dynamics or responses to situations perceived as threatening.” There is no shortage of historical examples, moreover.
But violence is exercised differently among women
However, acts of violence committed by women should not be seen as proof of “equality” in gender violence,but rather as an indication that human violence, in general, is a complex phenomenon, shaped by a multitude of individual, social and cultural factors.”
Indeed, the forms and contexts of violence often differ between the sexes. While men are statistically more involved in acts of serious physical violence, women generally exercise violence in different forms, such as emotional manipulation or relational violence.
“When they do become physically violent, it is most often in self-defense situations or in response to abuse, whereas men are more likely to resort to proactive or predatory violence,” emphasizes our expert.
Personality disorder likely to be behind drama
In this case, however, it would be necessary to know more about the relationship between the two partners to identify whether or not there were warning signals, whether they came from the woman or the young man… to determine the origin of this violence. Signals, which are neither feminine nor masculine.
“Certain personality traits or disorders can make a person, man or woman, more likely to resort to violence,” confirms our shrink. Thus several states can make a person violent.
- Borderline personality disorder: These people may have intense and unstable relationships, exhibit impulsive behaviors, and react in extreme ways.
- Antisocial personality disorder: Associated with a lack of empathy, remorse, and a tendency to break rules, this disorder can lead to violent and manipulative behavior.
- Paranoia: Excessive distrust and a tendency to perceive others as a threat can lead some people to acts of defensive or preemptive violence.
- Women who have experienced abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) can develop extreme, even violent, defense mechanisms, especially if they feel cornered or threatened.
- Some women may also respond to a perceived or real threat with a violent act, often linked to a situation of domination or control in the relationship.
What happened that day in that apartment in Perpignan remains a mystery today.