Psychiatrist and clinical psychologist Dr Emmanuel Azusong has explained that domestic abuse is not only a product of individual behaviour but is deeply rooted in personality disorders and societal conditioning.
His comments come after a man was captured in a viral video brutally assaulting a woman believed to be his wife has been remanded into police custody, along with two others accused of trying to threaten a witness.
According to him, abusive men exhibit traits linked to personality disorders, such as narcissism and controlling behaviours, which are often shaped by their upbringing and societal conditioning.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Dr Azusong explained that for some men, abusive behaviour is not only a response to specific situations but a reflection of their deep-rooted beliefs about gender roles and power dynamics in relationships.
Dr Azusong highlighted that many men who engage in abuse against women may have underlying personality disorders that contribute to their violent tendencies.
“A lot of men who are abusive, you would realise that the abuse is not only peculiar to women but it is something ingrained in their nature, in their thinking, and in their upbringing,” he said.
“Most of these individuals may have personality disorders, like narcissistic personality disorder, where they feel entitled to control others, particularly their partners.”
He further explained that societal norms often reinforce these destructive behaviours, particularly the belief that men are inherently entitled to dominate the household.
“These men are brought up by society to think that as the man, they should dominate the affairs of the house,” Dr Azusong said. “And that a woman should have no say in whatever is going on in the house, with her sole duty being in the kitchen.”
Dr Azusong’s noted that ingrained gender roles that persist in many communities, where men are conditioned to see themselves as the authoritative figures in relationships, while women are often relegated to subservient roles.
This power imbalance, he argued, creates an environment where abuse can be seen as acceptable or justified in the minds of some perpetrators.
One of the more troubling aspects of Dr Azusong’s analysis was his reference to the darker psychological motivations that can drive abusive behaviour, specifically the disturbing link between pain and sexual gratification.
Drawing on the recent viral video of the abusive incident, Dr Azusong noted that some men derive sexual pleasure from inflicting harm and maintaining control over their partners.
“In this particular video, you realise that this man still wanted to have sex with the woman despite all the controlling, demeaning, and abusive actions,” he explained.
“There are some men who gain sexual pleasure simply by inducing pain onto the woman. It’s important to recognise that for some individuals.”