Psychology of Violence, Vol 16(5), Sep 2026, 527-537; doi:10.1037/vio0000658
Objective: Iran has one of the highest rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) globally, yet some aspects remain understudied, particularly from a dyadic perspective. Personality psychopathology contributes to IPV and is prevalent in Iran; however, few studies have examined this factor in Iranian couples. This study tested the hypothesis that both partners’ personality organization (PO) scores—a dimensional model of personality psychopathology—affect both IPV perpetration and victimization. We also tested the hypothesis that physical violence is asymmetrical between genders, with wives experiencing higher victimization rates. Method: The sample comprised 198 nonclinical, heterosexual Iranian couples (Mage = 40.9 for husbands; Mage = 36.4 for wives) from diverse regions of Iran. Recruited online, they completed questionnaires via a website. The median marriage duration exceeded a decade, and their income levels reflected the general population. Each partner independently completed the Inventory of Personality Organization and the revised Conflict Tactics Scale to assess psychological and physical violence. Results: Actor–partner interdependence model analyses revealed that both partners’ PO significantly predicted psychological aggression by both partners (β = .203–.355) and physical violence by husbands (β = .189–.242). However, only wives’ PO, not husbands’, significantly predicted physical violence by wives (β = .296). Physical violence was asymmetric across genders, whereas psychological aggression exhibited symmetry in both level and predictor patterns. Conclusion: Findings indicated that personality psychopathology contributes to both IPV perpetration and victimization, suggesting individual interventions focused solely on victims be effective. The results support both family violence and feminist perspectives, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between violence types when evaluating gender symmetry. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)