A certain type of man can become violent if a woman breaks up with him. Here, how to spot a guy who's apt to get unhinged. Some men can become hell-bent on keeping a woman who wants to leave. And when his attempts to change her mind prove futile, he can get increasingly aggressive. 'When a guy feels that his entire world is wrapped up in you, he'll pull out all the stops to get you back,' explains assistant professor of psychiatry and a domestic violence researcher, Dr Susan Horwitz. 'The less successful he is, the more likely he is to resort to coercion and possibly violence.'
No wonder criminal experts consider the breakup period, when initiated by the woman, to be the most potentially dangerous time in a relationship. Below, we explain why a romantic split can spark violence, how to recognise a man who may lose it when he loses you, and the steps you must take to save your life if you are in this terrifying predicament.
| Why The End Of a Relationship Can Be a Violent Beginning |
No one likes getting dumped. But, for some men, it's about a lot more than personal rejection - it boils down to a loss of power. 'This kind of guy thinks of relationships in terms of control - he needs to control you to feel complete,' explains Pamela Jayne, author of Ditch That Jerk: Dealing With Men Who Control and Hurt Women (Hunter House Publishing). 'A breakup is the point at which that power is taken away, sending him into a panic that, when certain other traits are part of his personality, can manifest as harassment and verbal and physical abuse.' A romantic split can also set him off because it marks the end of his identity as a boyfriend, and that fractures his sense of self. 'Some guys need a relationship to feel secure about themselves as men, and when a woman ends things, their manliness is threatened,' says Horwitz. |
| The Type Of Guy Who's Prone To Aggression |
| What You Must Do Before Getting Out |
| The Breakup and Its Aftermath |
| Follow-Up Steps To Ensure Your Safety |