Violence against women reflects entrenched mindsets, not isolated incidents – Clinical expert

A psychiatrist and clinical psychologist, Dr. Emmanuel Azusong, says many abusive men display deep-rooted behavioural patterns shaped by personality disorders and long-standing societal conditioning.

His comments follow the arrest of a man captured in a viral video violently assaulting a woman believed to be his wife. The suspect has been remanded into police custody, along with two others accused of attempting to threaten a witness.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Dr. Azusong said patterns of abuse often extend beyond intimate partners.

“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 explained.

He noted that some perpetrators exhibit traits associated with clinical disorders.

“Most of these individuals may have personality disorders, like narcissistic personality disorder, where they feel entitled to control others, particularly their partners.”

Dr. Azusong linked these behaviours to social norms that reinforce male dominance within households.

“These men are brought up by society to think that as the man, they should dominate the affairs of the house,” he 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.”

Referencing elements from the viral video, he highlighted the disturbing intersection of sexual coercion and physical assault.

“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 said.

He warned that, for some individuals, violence is intertwined with sexual gratification. “There are some men who gain sexual pleasure simply by inducing pain onto the woman. It’s important to recognise that for some individuals,” he added.