But What Does Change Even Mean…? Men’s Desistance Narratives in Batterer Intervention Programs

Abstract Purpose This study aims to explore the narratives surrounding subjective change and intervention programs, emphasizing their role in the desistance process of batterers, addressing a gap in Latin American scholarship on this topic. The research question underlying our research is: How do male perpetrators of intimate partner violence narrate their own change processes and their experiences with the intervention programs? Methods We conducted open-ended interviews with 41 men in Metropolitan Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, using convenience sampling. The data were analyzed through a four-stage, deductively driven thematic process to identify key narratives. Results Participants' narratives about change fell into four main categories: (1) personal transformation; (2) shifts in social relationships; (3) denial and resistance; and (4) uncertainty and defensiveness about change. Views on batterer intervention programs ranged from (1) positive impact, (2) outright rejection, to (3) cautious distance. The study found that change narratives were influenced not only by gendered views on self, transformation, help-seeking, and violence, but also by perceptions of institutional reliability. Conclusions The study concludes that understanding desistance from intimate partner violence and trajectories in batterer intervention programs requires placing individual narratives within the broader context of institutional perceptions. The range of available narratives for describing change shapes the possibilities for subjective change. These findings highlight the importance of considering batterers’ subjective expectations and worldviews in developing effective intervention strategies and policies aimed at addressing intimate partner violence in Latin America.