The test that 'identifies' potential wife-beaters

SCIENTISTS claim to have identified tell-tale traits in men that could predict whether they pose a threat to their partners.

In a study of male behaviour sparked by sexual jealousy, researchers found three key danger signs which they claim could help to predict and perhaps prevent domestic violence.

In a report of the study, led by Dr Todd Shackelford, from Florida Atlanta University in Davie, USA, scientists said: "At a practical level, results of these studies can potentially be used to inform women and men, friends and relatives, of danger signs - the specific acts and tactics of 'mate retention' - that portend the possibility of future violence in relationships, in order to prevent it before it has been enacted."

They identified men who constantly checked-up on their partners; those who used emotional manipulation and those who monopolised a partner's time, as likely candidates for domestic violence against their partners.

The scientists questioned 107 husband and wife couples who had been married less than a year.

The husbands were asked to complete a special questionnaire designed to assess the tactics they used to hold on to their relationships using a so-called Mate Retention Inventory, developed by psychologists in 1988.

The wives were questioned about their husbands' controlling behaviour and use of violence.

Yesterday, British experts on domestic violence said they recognised the traits as being those associated with men who beat their partners. But they urged a note of caution about the survey and warned that domestic violence was not something that could be easily predicted.

Renee Pearson, resource co-ordinator at the Domestic Abuse Helpline, based in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, said that she agreed the traits identified by scientists were "those of abusive men". However, she warned against women relying on such evidence, as many violent men were adept at hiding their behaviour.

"These are definite traits that violent men exhibit, particularly the emotional manipulation, which women can often take to mean that their partners love them.

"These traits cause emotional abuse, which is a form of domestic abuse, whether it leads to violence or not."

But Ms Pearson said that it was often impossible to tell whether a man would become violent.

Another expert said that she would be "very cautious" about the survey's findings. "What is being described could easily apply to the early stages of any new romantic relationship, where people want to see each other all the time, or declare they can't live without the other," said Dr Marysia Zalewski, the director of the centre for gender studies at Aberdeen University.

Warning signs

THREE traits identified as top of the list in predicting domestic violence:

1. Checking up on a partner or "vigilance". Behaviour such as making frequent calls to establish a person's whereabouts or "dropping in" on them unexpectedly. Rated behaviour most likely to signify violence.

2. Emotional manipulation. This involves actions such as a man saying he would "die" if his partner left him. The second strongest warning sign of violence.

3. Monopolisation of time and threats to punish infidelity. This rates lower but is another behavioural trait of violent partners.