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This study examines violent men and utilizes gender role conflict theory and conformity to masculine norms as a framework to understand why men continue to victimize others through violence. The sample consisted of 258 detainees and prisoners located in New England. Multiple regression analyses compared violence, gender role conflict, and conformity to masculine norms and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted examining violence as the criterion variable. In all analyses, violence remained statistically significant and gender role conflict and conformity to masculine norms were statistically significant as predictor variables in each analysis. Race, age, religious affiliation, and family history of crime were statistically significant in some regression analyses and predictors of violence. Implications for practice are discussed.

Despite drastic and severe fiscal cuts in services to the homeless, their need continues to remain very high. Men are a particularly vulnerable group among the homeless and continue to struggle with substance abuse, mental illness, and physical health issues. When faced with these struggles, men are often reluctant to ask for help. The results indicate that the men surveyed are not likely to seek help for their physical and psychological struggles. We examined other risk factors to homeless men including amount of alcohol and drug use, length of homelessness, gender role conflict and susceptibility to committing a violent act. Limitations to the study are presented and discussed as well.