Rejecting and retaining aspects of selfhood: Constructing desistance from abuse as a ‘masculine’ endeavour

Abstract

This study explores how men who have completed perpetrator programs construct their desistance from abusive behaviour in relation to masculinity. Based on interviews with men five years post-program completion, the research highlights how their engagement with behaviour change was influenced by prior anxieties about masculinity and control. Findings suggest that while some men viewed the program as a threat to their masculine identity, others framed their desistance as an ‘heroic struggle,’ using traditional masculine traits to sustain non-violent behaviours. The study underscores the gendered nature of behaviour change, raising critical considerations for the design and facilitation of perpetrator intervention programs.