Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men

Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men cover
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  • ID: 7151
  • Added: 2025-12-12
  • Updated: 2025-12-13
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 2
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goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-12-22
helpful 4.50

Why Does He Do That? is a valuable resource for understanding abusive behavior, particularly in relationships. The book is written by Lundy Bancroft, who has extensive experience working with angry and controlling men. It addresses common questions women in abusive relationships often have, providing insights into the abuser's mindset and offering practical advice for protection and recovery.

Why Does He Do That? is a book that delves into the minds of angry and controlling men, providing a comprehensive understanding of abusive behavior. Written by Lundy Bancroft, a man with over fifteen years of experience in counseling and evaluating abusive men, the book is primarily aimed at women in abusive relationships. It answers twenty-one common questions that women often have about their abusive partners, such as whether the abuser was abused as a child or why they are so insanely jealous. Bancroft's extensive experience and clarity of thought make the book a valuable resource not only for women in abusive relationships but also for anyone seeking to understand and address abusive behavior. The book also debunks myths that abusers use to excuse their behavior, offering practical advice for protection and recovery. It is a must-read for anyone looking to gain insights into the abusive mindset and how to respond effectively.


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    The people who can best benefit from knowledge about abusers and how they think are women, who can use what I have learned to help themselves recognise when they are being controlled or devalued in a relationship, to find ways to get free of abuse if it is happening, and to know how to avoid getting involved with an abusive man — or a controller or a user — next time.

    He goes about achieving his purpose by answering twenty-one questions that in his experience women most often ask about their abusive partners — such as: Does he abuse because he was abused as a child? (Q1, p. 25) Is he doing it on purpose? (Q2 p. 34) Why is he so insanely jealous? (Q. 6 p. 73).

    Lundy, a man, is well qualified to deal with these questions, having been involved — either as a ‘counsellor, evaluator (for court) — in “two thousand or more” cases involving angry and controlling men for over fifteen years.

bookpeople.com · Unknown · 2003-09-02
brilliant 4.50

The book is a must-read for women in abusive relationships, explaining the fundamental value systems of abusive men and the rarity of their change. It provides valuable insights into recognizing red flags and encourages women to leave abusive relationships.

This book is highly recommended for any woman who has been or is in an abusive relationship. It delves into the reasons why some men treat their partners so poorly, emphasizing that it's not external influences but a fundamental value system that views women as property. The book teaches how to recognize the red flags of an abusive man and highlights the rarity of abusive men changing. It is advised that women leave abusive relationships rather than wait for change. The book was a lifeline for someone in a verbally abusive relationship, helping them understand and counteract the abusive behavior. It is described as life-altering and provides a clear understanding of the abusive mindset.


Quick quotes

    This is a must read for any woman who has been or is in an abusive relationship. Bancroft explains in great detail why some men treat their girlfriends or wives so abhorrently.

    This book was a lifeline for me during a verbally abusive relationship I was struggling with. What Lundy says is so spot on, that you get a sense he has been a fly on the wall in your house, quietly listening and taking notes, for years.

    My favorite point from this book: abusive men want to think (and have others think) that their abusive actions spring from complicated and deeply buried traumas in their pasts. But the cause of abuse is actually quite simple and clear - it is the abuser's belief that they have a right to control their partner's actions and thoughts.