The connection between misogyny and violence can be deeply understood through the lens of Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), which explores how our brain, body, and relationships are intricately connected. From this perspective, misogyny and violence are not just social phenomena but also the product of underlying neurobiological, relational, and psychological processes that reinforce harmful patterns. Misogyny, in particular, plays a key role in shaping these dynamics and often fuels violent behavior. Here’s how IPNB can help explain this connection:
Emotional Dysregulation and Threat Response
At its core, misogyny is often rooted in fear, rejection, or resentment toward women. These emotional states activate the body’s threat-response system, which is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the “fight-flight-freeze” responses. In many men who harbor misogynistic beliefs, women are perceived as threats to their self-esteem, sense of identity, or power. When this fear or resentment becomes chronic, their nervous systems stay in a heightened state of alert, easily triggered into aggression (fight response) as a way of neutralizing perceived threats. Violence then becomes a direct extension of their emotional dysregulation.
Shame and Power Dynamics
Shame plays a powerful role in the development of misogynistic attitudes and behaviors. Many men with these views have internalized feelings of inadequacy, failure, or rejection. Instead of processing shame in a healthy, adaptive way, they externalize it by blaming and demeaning women. Misogyny provides a way to reassert a sense of dominance and superiority, often in compensation for feelings of powerlessness or worthlessness. From an IPNB perspective, this dynamic is linked to a dysregulated nervous system that struggles to find equilibrium. Violent behaviors are sometimes employed as a way to “restore” power and alleviate the deep discomfort of shame, particularly in situations where men feel challenged or rejected by women.
Empathy Breakdown and Dehumanization
Healthy interpersonal relationships and the capacity for empathy are key components of a well-regulated nervous system. IPNB emphasizes that empathy is essential for prosocial behaviors and connection, but misogynistic beliefs actively erode empathy for women. Over time, these beliefs promote a form of dehumanization, where women are seen as objects or adversaries rather than as people. This lack of empathy weakens the brain’s capacity for attunement with others, making it easier to engage in violent behavior without remorse. The loss of empathy, particularly in relation to women, allows violence to be rationalized as “justified” within a misogynistic worldview.
Group Identity and Reinforcement of Violence
Misogyny is often reinforced within social groups or cultures that normalize and glorify aggression toward women. This is particularly evident in certain subcultures (such as some Incel communities or extremist ideologies), where misogynistic attitudes are celebrated and violent fantasies are validated. IPNB explains that our brains are social organs—our sense of self is shaped by interactions and shared beliefs within groups. When these groups promote violent rhetoric and attitudes toward women, it amplifies the nervous system’s inclination toward hostility and aggression. Collective validation within misogynistic communities serves as a form of maladaptive co-regulation, which makes the transition from hateful ideation to violent action more likely.
Projection of Internal Conflict
From an IPNB perspective, misogynistic violence can also be understood as the projection of internal conflicts onto external targets. Men who struggle with feelings of inadequacy or insecurity may project these unresolved issues onto women, who they view as embodying the source of their pain. This projection creates a distorted belief that women are responsible for their suffering, failure, or rejection, and thus must be controlled or punished. In this case, violence becomes an external expression of unresolved internal dysregulation. By attacking women, men attempt to resolve the internal turmoil they feel, albeit in a destructive and maladaptive way.
Nervous System Dysregulation and Aggression
The connection between misogyny and violence also stems from the way chronic anger, frustration, and entitlement dysregulate the nervous system. IPNB tells us that when our nervous system is stuck in a state of hyperarousal (fight mode), it becomes harder to self-regulate and return to a state of calm. Misogynistic beliefs, especially when tied to entitlement and resentment, keep the nervous system on edge, continually feeding into anger. When left unchecked, this chronic state of dysregulation can result in aggressive outbursts or calculated acts of violence, often aimed at women who are perceived as denying them something (affection, respect, sex) they believe they deserve.
Cultural Reinforcement of Gender-Based Power Hierarchies
Cultural and societal structures that reinforce patriarchal values often promote and normalize the domination of women, which can further enable misogynistic violence. In many societies, men are socialized to view control and power as central to their identity, and misogyny is often an extension of this hierarchical worldview. IPNB acknowledges that human brains are shaped by culture and relational dynamics, meaning that repeated exposure to messages that frame women as inferior or as objects for male consumption can influence brain wiring, solidifying harmful power dynamics. When these messages are internalized, violence becomes a tool for enforcing these power hierarchies, whether in individual relationships or larger social contexts.
Sexual Objectification and Emotional Disconnection
In cultures where women are sexually objectified, men are conditioned to view them primarily through a lens of dominance and possession, rather than mutual connection. IPNB shows that emotional attunement and connection are crucial for healthy relational development, but sexual objectification disrupts this by severing the emotional bond and replacing it with control-based interactions. This disconnection primes the nervous system for transactional or exploitative relationships, where violence can occur when a man feels his “right” to access a woman’s body is denied. The disconnection from empathy and mutual respect feeds into the belief that violence is an acceptable response to women’s autonomy.
Violence as a Response to Perceived Status Threat
Many men with misogynistic beliefs view women’s rejection or autonomy as a threat to their status, power, or identity. From an IPNB standpoint, status is closely tied to self-regulation and emotional balance, as perceived threats to status activate the stress-response system. When a man interprets a woman’s behavior (e.g., rejection, independence) as a threat to his status, it can trigger a fight response—leading to verbal, emotional, or physical violence as a way to “reclaim” that status. This dynamic is particularly dangerous in cultures that link masculinity with dominance and control over women
From an IPNB perspective, the connection between misogyny and violence is deeply tied to emotional dysregulation, the breakdown of empathy, and the influence of social and cultural factors that reinforce harmful power dynamics. Misogyny often stems from unresolved shame, fear, and insecurity, which, when left unaddressed, can lead to hostility and aggression toward women. The normalization of misogynistic attitudes within certain groups or cultures further amplifies these tendencies, reinforcing the neural pathways that drive violence. Addressing this connection requires a focus on fostering empathy, emotional regulation, and healthier relational dynamics between men and women to break the cycle of hatred and aggression.
This post includes content generated by ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. The AI-generated content has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and relevance.
