Grounded in evidence.

The Predictive Validity of Intimate Partner Violence Warning Signs

Charlot, N., Joel, S., & Campbell, L. (2025). Social Psychological and Personality Science, 16(2), 192–201., 2025

Examined whether observable thoughts, feelings and behaviours occurring earlier in romantic relationships can predict later intimate partner violence. Across two studies, both the number of warning signs and how frequently they occurred predicted overall abuse. Seven warning signs consistently predicted abuse: acting arrogant or entitled; disagreement about something sexual; sex when the participant was not in the mood; creating an uncomfortable situation in public; disregarding the participant's reasoning when it conflicted with their own; reacting negatively when told no; and resenting being questioned about how they treated the participant. Patterns matter — it was not one isolated warning sign but a constellation, in greater number and frequency, that predicted higher subsequent abuse. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: provides strong empirical support for teaching young people to recognise early relationship behaviours before obvious abuse becomes established — the foundation of our relationship literacy approach.

Timelines of Psychological, Physical and Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Among Australian Women

McLindon, E., and colleagues (2025)., 2025

Australian research involving 815 women found that psychological abuse frequently emerged before physical or sexual violence, often before couples began living together or married. Some of the earliest reported indicators included isolation from friends and family, controlling behaviours, and verbal abuse. The findings demonstrate that abusive relationships frequently involved escalating patterns of psychological control, rather than beginning with an obvious incident of physical violence. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: strongly supports HINYP's emphasis on teaching young women to recognise psychological and emotional warning signs before more serious harm develops.

The Role of the Socialisation of Women in Recognising and Responding to the Earliest Warning Signs of Intimate Partner Abuse

Nunn, A., Winter, S., Frey, R., & Asquith, N. (2024)., 2024

Examines how women can experience negative reactions to concerning behaviours without identifying them as abuse. Explores the role of socialisation in shaping how women interpret, excuse or respond to early warning signs — and why recognition alone may not be sufficient without also addressing the beliefs that influence how those behaviours are understood.

Cognitive Distortions and Decision-Making in Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review

Badenes-Sastre, M., and colleagues (2025). Psicothema., 2025

Identified hope for change, saviour beliefs, minimisation and self-blame among factors affecting relationship decision-making in women experiencing intimate partner violence. Provides empirical support for HINYP's focus on the beliefs that influence how women interpret and respond to harmful behaviour — not only whether they can identify it.

Adolescent Girls’ Responses to Warning Signs of Abuse in Romantic Relationships

Murphy, A., & Smith, D. (2010). Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(4)., 2010

Australian study examining adolescent girls’ recognition of warning signs and their responses to concerning behaviours in romantic relationships. Explores the gap between recognising a warning sign and acting on it — relevant to HINYP's focus on building both recognition and the confidence to respond.

Traumatic Bonding in Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Is Intensified via Empathy

Effiong, J. E., Ibeagha, P. N., & Iorfa, S. K. (2022). Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(9)., 2022

Examined associations between empathy and traumatic bonding among women experiencing intimate partner violence. Found that empathy intensified traumatic bonding — supporting HINYP's focus on the distinction between empathy and responsibility, and why understanding a partner's trauma does not create an obligation to remain in a harmful relationship.

The Role of Relational Dependence, Forgiveness and Hope on the Intention to Return with an Abusive Partner

Crapolicchio, E., Regalia, C., Di Bernardo, G. A., & Cinquegrana, V. (2021). Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(9), 2474–2493., 2021

Examined psychological and relational factors that may help explain why women consider reconciling with an abusive partner, specifically relational dependence, forgiveness (positive and negative dimensions), hope that the abusive partner will change, and intention to return. The researchers found that relational dependence was indirectly associated with greater intention to return through benevolent forgiveness and hope for partner change. Benevolent forgiveness here involves developing more positive feelings or goodwill toward the person who caused harm. The authors suggest that the positive dimension of forgiveness may form part of the cycle of violence when it contributes to renewed hope that the abusive partner will change. Limitations: measures intention to return, not actual return; identifies associations rather than establishing causation. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: provides empirical support for one of the central HINYP propositions — that hope someone will change can influence relationship decision-making even after harmful behaviour has occurred.

Hyper-sensitivity to the Perpetrator and the Likelihood of Returning to Abusive Relationships

Lahav, Y. (2023). Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(1–2), 1815–1841., 2023

Examined whether women's emotional bonds with abusive partners were associated with their perceived likelihood of returning to an abusive relationship, across 258 Israeli women. In the final model, only two factors uniquely contributed: income, and hyper-sensitivity to the perpetrator. Lahav describes hyper-sensitivity as women becoming extremely attuned to the abusive partner's feelings and needs — shifting attention toward 'what is he feeling / why is he behaving this way / what does he need?' rather than 'what is this relationship doing to me?' Limitations: measured perceived likelihood of returning, not actual return; cross-sectional self-report design. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: provides empirical support for one of the core HINYP concepts — what happens when concern for a partner's feelings and needs begins to override attention to your own boundaries and wellbeing.

Relations among Romantic Myths, Offline Dating Violence Victimization and Cyber Dating Violence Victimization in Adolescents

Cava, M. J., Buelga, S., Carrascosa, L., & Ortega-Barón, J. (2020). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1551., 2020

Examined relationships between adolescents' endorsement of romantic-love myths and experiences of offline and cyber dating violence across 492 Spanish adolescents. Romantic-love myths were associated with cyber-control and cyber-aggression victimisation among both boys and girls. For girls, stronger endorsement of romantic myths was also associated with greater verbal-emotional dating violence victimisation. Myths examined included: love can overcome difficulties; jealousy signifies love; love involves suffering; having a partner is necessary for happiness. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: supports the proposition that teaching young women to recognise unhealthy behaviours may not be sufficient if underlying beliefs about love lead them to interpret jealousy, monitoring or control as evidence of care.

Influence of Beliefs about Romantic Love on the Justification of Abusive Behaviors among Early Adolescents

Ruiz-Palomino, E., Ballester-Arnal, R., Giménez-García, C., & Gil-Llario, M. D. (2021). Journal of Adolescence, 92, 126–136., 2021

Across 448 adolescents (avg. age 12.92), greater belief in romantic-love myths was linked to lower perceived severity of abusive behaviour. For girls, belief in the omnipotence of love was associated with minimising abuse. The study found romantic-love myths are already established in early adolescence, reinforcing the case for early prevention that addresses both the cognitive and emotional dimensions of intimate relationships.

Understanding How Abuse Develops Over Time

Australian study examining the sequence in which different forms of intimate partner violence emerged throughout abusive relationships. Published via PubMed Central., 2025

Examined the experiences of 815 Australian women who had experienced intimate partner violence. Participants reconstructed timelines of psychologically, physically and sexually abusive behaviours, allowing researchers to identify common patterns in how abuse developed. The research found that psychological abuse frequently emerged before physical or sexual violence, often before couples began living together or married. Research consideration: the study used survivors' retrospective accounts to identify common sequences. Individual experiences varied, and the findings do not establish that every psychologically abusive relationship will escalate to physical violence. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: strongly supports HINYP's emphasis on teaching young women to recognise psychological and emotional warning signs before more serious harm develops.

The Deeper Context of Coercive Control: Understanding Patterns of Entitlement, Manipulation and Control

Mitchell, K., Melville-Wiseman, J., & McFarlane, F. (2025). Probation Journal., 2025

Proposes a framework of 20 attributes and 25 tactics associated with persistent predatory and coercively controlling behaviour, drawing on research with 57 experienced practitioners and researchers. The resulting model identifies recurring themes involving entitlement, a strong desire for control, manipulation and exploitation, hostile reactions when challenged, and behaviours designed to avoid scrutiny. Research consideration: the PPP model is a proposed conceptual framework, not an established clinical diagnosis or validated screening instrument. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: informs HINYP's exploration of the relationship between entitlement, control, accountability and expectations that women should accommodate or change their partners.

Typologies of Domestic and Family Violence Perpetrators: A Data-Driven Study

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (2026)., 2026

Identified eight perpetrator groups, four male and four female, with differing offending patterns and service needs. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: supports the proposition that perpetrator behaviour is not uniform, and that effective prevention and intervention requires understanding the range of patterns and motivations involved.

Treatment and Recidivism Outcomes for Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review of Typology Research

Giesbrecht, C., Keown, L., & Bruer, K. (2026)., 2026

Found differences in treatment completion and reoffending across perpetrator groups, supporting further research into appropriately tailored interventions. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: reinforces that understanding perpetrator typologies is relevant to both intervention design and to helping young women understand that abusive behaviour is not uniform — and that change requires more than willingness.

Personality Disorders as Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Meta-analysis

Collison, K. L., & Lynam, D. R. (2021). Clinical Psychology Review, 86., 2021

Examined associations between personality pathology and perpetration. A personality disorder diagnosis alone does not establish abusive behaviour or intent. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: informs HINYP's exploration of the relationship between personality, entitlement and harmful behaviour — while reinforcing that diagnosis does not determine outcome, and that understanding a partner's psychology does not create an obligation to remain.

Dr Peter Salerno — Clinical Commentary and Publications

Dr Salerno challenges the assumption that abusive behaviour must result from unresolved trauma and discusses intentional abuse, personality pathology and the risks of excessive empathy in harmful relationships. His arguments are clinical interpretations informed by research, not proof that trauma-based explanations are universally invalid. Why this matters to He Is Not Your Project: informs HINYP's exploration of the distinction between understanding a partner's history and being responsible for changing their behaviour.