The Alcohol–Jealousy–Anger Triad: Drivers of Intimate Partner Violence Against Men

Abstract

This article advances understanding of the drivers of intimate partner violence (IPV) by centering African men’s qualitative experiences as victims within heterosexual unions. It develops the Alcohol–Jealousy–Anger Triad as an integrated conceptual framework to explain the mechanisms that precipitate IPV against men, extending beyond the predominantly female-focused literature. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 25 men in Johannesburg, the study illustrates how alcohol functions as a disinhibitor, reducing cognitive and emotional regulation; jealousy operates as a cognitive–emotional trigger, heightening relational insecurity and perceived threats to exclusivity; and explosive anger serves as the behavioral enactment through which violence is perpetrated. The triad conceptualizes these factors as a dynamic, mutually reinforcing escalation system, highlighting how situational disinhibition, perceived infidelity, and explosive anger converge to generate both physical and emotional abuse. The findings are discussed through the lens of disinhibition theory, alcohol myopia, and anger and I³ models, situating male victimization within broader theoretical frameworks. This article foregrounds men’s victimisation and the interrelated mechanisms driving abuse and offers a theoretically grounded platform for empirical inquiry, policy formulation, and the development of inclusive IPV interventions.