The Link Between Dark Personalities and Intimate Partner Violence with Christie Tetreault

RESOLVing Violence

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions around topics relating to dark personalities, personality disorders, and their portrayal in popular culture. This includes discussions around psychopathy, narcissism, sadism, and Machiavellianism. Additionally, we explore sensitive subjects such as cyberbullying, genocides, military massacres, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised, as these topics can be triggering or distressing for some individuals.

In this episode of the Resolving Violence podcast, host Shaylyn White continues her illuminating conversation with guest Christie Tetreault. This episode is the second part of a 2-part feature focusing on dark personalities and intimate partner violence (IPV). The conversation picks up where it left off, delving into the myths surrounding IPV and how they relate to dark personality traits. Christie starts by highlighting the various definitions of IPV adopted in research and teaching, emphasizing the importance of including psychological aggression and coercive acts in these definitions. The dialogue underscores that IPV is not unidirectional and challenges the common misconception that men are always the perpetrators and women the victims.

A clarification note from the guest:
"I think my answer [to the last question] wasn’t as clear as it could have been because I was trying to think of how to be specific without tipping off potential perpetrators from figuring out the protocols that are in place in Canada and elsewhere. For example, in Ireland, what front line workers do is they mark a person’s file in a specific way if partner abuse is expected. I asked if this was also done for men, and I was told no because “men are never victims,” which of course is not accurate. Canadian front line workers also have a protocol for female victims who go to doctors’ office or ERs when the front-line workers suspect they may be victims of abuse. If you wouldn’t believe a woman is just clumsy and got hurt by falling into a door when the injuries are not consistent with that story, then it is important to have the same suspicions if men or anyone regardless of gender identity comes to the ER with those same excuses that are inconsistent with their injuries or are repeatedly coming in. It’s important to remember people who identify as women underreport their abuse and people who identify as men underreport their abuse even more and are even less likely to ask for help. So, what I would say is that same protocol and mindset needs to be used for everyone regardless of gender identification and sexual orientation to try to end the bias that is happening in services around Canada and the world."
To learn more about dark personalities visit the following website: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/1020/1254859-narcissist-psychopath-sadist-psychology/

To learn more about IPV visit the following website:
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0123/1110351-7-myths-about-domestic-violence/

About Our Guest:

Dr. Christie Tetreault is a distinguished postdoctoral fellow specializing in forensic psychology, with extensive research expertise in resilience, susceptibility to extremism, and interpersonal violence. Outside the lab, Dr. Tetreault is a dedicated educator, bringing complex concepts to life through engaging classroom discussions and the use of fictional characters for illustrative purposes.

To learn more about Resolve SK, head to research-groups.usask.ca/resolve/