Alexandra Lysova, Ph.D., est professeure titulaire à l’École de criminologie de l’Université Simon Fraser, à Vancouver/Burnaby, Canada. Elle a obtenu son doctorat en sciences sociologiques à l’Académie des sciences de Russie, à Saint-Pétersbourg, ainsi que son doctorat en criminologie à l’Université de Toronto. Elle étudie la violence et l’homicide entre partenaires intimes depuis plus de 20 ans en Russie et au Canada. Ses recherches portent sur la violence et l’homicide dans les relations intimes, incluant les violences envers les femmes, les enfants et les hommes. Son travail s’appuie sur des données provenant de groupes de discussion internationaux, de l’Enquête sociale générale canadienne sur la victimisation et de l’Enquête sur les homicides. Elle est membre des groupes de travail de Statistique Canada sur la violence fondée sur le sexe et les homicides. Ses recherches ont bénéficié du soutien d’organisations prestigieuses, dont la Fondation Fulbright (États-Unis), la Fondation Humboldt (Allemagne) et la Fondation Trudeau (Canada). Elle est l’auteure ou co-auteure de plus de 80 publications en russe et en anglais et a été chercheuse principale pour plusieurs subventions majeures. Elle présente régulièrement ses travaux lors de conférences internationales et apparaît fréquemment dans les médias. En 2022, elle a reçu le Prix Sterling en soutien à la controverse pour ses recherches novatrices sur la victimisation des hommes.
En 2023, elle a été récompensée par le Prix du leadership de Heterodox Academy pour son engagement en faveur de la liberté académique à l’Université Simon Fraser et au-delà. Cette même année, elle a joué un rôle clé dans l’intégration de son campus au Réseau des communautés universitaires de Heterodox Academy. Elle a siégé au Sénat et participé à divers comités et groupes de travail universitaires afin de préserver la liberté académique, l’ouverture au débat et la diversité des opinions au sein du campus de SFU.
Complexités et lacunes propres à la recherche portant sur la violence conjugale
La carrière de chercheuse de la Dre Lysova, qui couvre une période de plus de 20 ans en Russie et actuellement au Canada, est axée sur la violence conjugale et les homicides conjugaux. Si ses travaux de recherche portaient initialement sur la violence conjugale envers les femmes et les enfants en Russie et à l’échelle internationale, ses travaux récents se concentrent sur les expériences des hommes en matière de violence conjugale, notamment en ce qui concerne la victimisation, les comportements de recherche d’aide et les questions touchant les enfants. Elle s’appuie sur les résultats de groupes de discussion internationaux, sur l’Enquête sociale générale (ESG) sur la victimisation et sur l’Enquête sur les homicides. La Dre Lysova a également été membre des groupes de travail de Statistique Canada s’intéressant à la violence fondée sur le sexe et aux homicides.
Bien qu’il s’agisse d’un sujet controversé, la Dre Lysova a persisté à écouter les voix des hommes victimes de violence et a insisté pour avoir des échanges honnêtes sur le caractère bidirectionnel de la violence et les expériences de violence vécues par les individus, quel que soit leur sexe. Elle est l’auteure de deux articles publiés dans The Conversation qui traitent des implications du procès de Johnny Depp et appellent à redoubler d’efforts pour aider les hommes victimes de maltraitance conjugale. Pour ce travail, elle a reçu le Prix Sterling en soutien à la controverse, en 2022.
“I thought I was going to kill myself, but part of me insisted that I get help”: Coping experiences of male survivors of intimate partner violence
2025
Evidence from Canadian population data and qualitative research highlights disparities in help-seeking, reliance on avoidant coping among male victims, and limited access to gender-inclusive services, underscoring the need for more nuanced, inclusive, and evidence-based approaches to understanding and addressing intimate partner abuse.
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Bidirectional and unidirectional intimate partner violence: A comprehensive review
2025
Evidence from multiple population, community, and clinical samples shows that bidirectional IPV is the most prevalent pattern, yet it remains underrecognized in research, policy, and practice. Persistent gendered assumptions obscure female-perpetrated violence, male victimization, and mutual dynamics, limiting accurate risk assessment and effective intervention.
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Rates of male and female physical victimization and perpetration in intimate relationships: A comprehensive review
2025
This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from 246 studies published between 2012 and 2022 on male and female victimization and perpetration of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) in industrialized, English-speaking countries. Findings show that IPV remains a significant social and public health issue, but prevalence rates for both women and men have declined substantially over the past decade. The review also demonstrates persistent gender symmetry in IPV, ongoing underrecognition of male victimization and female perpetration, and important methodological gaps that limit effective prevention and intervention.
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Hanson, K. & Lysova, A. (2021). The father, the son, and the abuser: The portrayal of male victims of intimate partner homicide in the news media. Homicide Studies
2023
This study analyzes 203 English-language news articles on intimate partner homicide (IPH) involving male victims and female perpetrators published in 2019. Using thematic analysis, we identified two dominant media frames: doubting the victim and victim recognition. Findings show that male victims are frequently blamed, portrayed as non-ideal victims, or depicted as responsible for their own deaths through character derogation and victim precipitation. Although some articles humanize male victims, coverage largely reinforces gendered stereotypes, limiting public recognition of male victimization and potentially hindering prevention and support efforts.
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Internal and external barriers to help seeking: Voices of men who experienced abuse in the intimate relationships
2022
This qualitative study examines internal and external barriers to help seeking among 41 men from four English-speaking countries who experienced abuse by female intimate partners. Using online focus groups, the study identifies six key themes, including lack of abuse recognition, commitment to maintaining family relationships, masculine norms, fear of legal consequences, stigma, and the absence of gender-inclusive support services. The findings highlight systemic gaps in responses to intimate partner abuse and emphasize the need for public education, professional training, and accessible, gender-inclusive services to better support male victims.
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Severity of victimization and formal help seeking among men who experienced intimate partner violence in their ongoing relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(3-4), 1404-1429
2022
This study examines the severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by men in ongoing relationships in Canada and their use of formal and informal help-seeking strategies. Using nationally representative data from the 2009 and 2014 Canadian General Social Survey and latent class analysis, the study identifies four patterns of IPV severity, ranging from mild physical violence to severe physical and psychological abuse. While most male victims did not seek formal help, greater severity of IPV increased help seeking. Structural factors such as unemployment and residing with young children reduced formal help seeking, highlighting the need for gender-inclusive policies and services.
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Prevalence and consequences of intimate partner violence in Canada as measured by the national victimization survey. Partner Abuse, 10 (2), 199-221.
2019
Using data from the 2014 Canadian General Social Survey on Victimization, this study examines the prevalence, context, and consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) among men and women in current heterosexual relationships in Canada. Findings show that men were more likely than women to report physical IPV, while rates of severe controlling abuse (intimate terrorism) were similar across genders. Although women reported more injuries and short-term emotional impacts, men and women experienced comparable long-term trauma-related effects. The study highlights the need for inclusive, evidence-based approaches to IPV research and policy.
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What is Russia’s real homicide rate? Statistical reconstruction and the ‘decivilizing process’. Theoretical Criminology, 19(2), 257-277
2015
This article critically examines the accuracy of official homicide statistics in Russia, arguing that the sharp decline reported in the 2000s is largely an artifact of data misclassification and underreporting. Using reconstructed homicide estimates and multiple data sources, the study demonstrates that homicide rates were substantially higher and declined far more slowly than official figures suggest. Drawing on Norbert Elias’s concept of a decivilizing process, our study links persistently high violence to weak state institutions, diminished social trust, rising hostility, and the criminalization of economic life in post-Soviet Russia.
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Dramatic problems and weak policy. Trends in alcohol consumption, harms and policy: Russia 1990–2010. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 5(27), 425-447
2010
This article reviews trends in alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harm, and policy responses in Russia between 1990 and 2010. Drawing on multiple national data sources, it shows that Russia has among the highest levels of alcohol consumption globally, characterized by heavy episodic drinking and a strong preference for spirits, particularly vodka. These patterns are closely linked to elevated rates of mortality, injury, family violence, homicide, and suicide. We argued that weak state regulation, market liberalization, and inconsistent alcohol policies have undermined prevention efforts, making alcohol-related harm a persistent national crisis.
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Binge drinking and violence against intimate partners in Russia. Aggressive Behaviour, 34, 416-427.
2008
This study examines the relationship between binge drinking and intimate partner violence (IPV) among 500 Russian university students using data from the International Dating Violence Study. Results show that women reported higher rates of IPV perpetration than men, and the association between binge drinking and IPV was stronger for women. Antisocial traits and behaviors partially mediated this relationship for women but not for men. The findings highlight gender differences in alcohol-related violence and underscore the importance of considering individual traits and cultural context when addressing IPV in Russia.
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Heterodox Academy Leadership Award
2023
This leadership award recognizes Dr. Lysova’s persistent and principled efforts to protect academic freedom at Simon Fraser University and across the academy.
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The Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy
2022
This award recognizes Dr. Lysova’s bravery in challenging social norms around male victims of domestic violence, as well as her dedicated research and contributions to our collective understanding of the complexities of domestic violence.
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Richard Ericson Award
2014
This award was given in recognition of Dr. Lysova’s research on women’s experiences of violence in Canada at the University of Toronto.
Barbara Frum Memorial Award in Canadian Studies
2011
This award was given in recognition of Dr. Lysova’s research on intimate partner violence at the University of Toronto.
Connaught International Scholarship
2010
This award and scholarship at the University of Toronto provided entrance funding in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.
Carnegie Research Fellowship Program
2009
This award and scholarship supported collaboration with Dr. Murray Straus on corporal punishment and abuse research at the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire.
German Chancellor Fellowship Program at Max Planck Institute
2006-2007
This award and scholarship supported collaboration with Dr. Helmut Kury on the study of violent crime in Russia and Germany.
The Best Young University Lecturer Award
2006
In recognition of teaching the courses "Psychological Counselling" and "Family violence" at the Far Eastern State University in the Russian Federation.
Excellency in Research Award and Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences
2006
This award was given in recognition of Dr. Lysova’s research on dating violence in Russia.
Fulbright Fellowship Program at New York University
2003-2004
This award and scholarship supported collaboration with Dr. Murray Straus at the University of New Hampshire and Drs. Linda Mills and Jo Dixon at New York University on family violence research in the United States and Russia.
Library of Congress - Kennan Institute Award
2003
This award and scholarship supported research on domestic violence in the United States at the Library of Congress and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Open World Fellowship Program for “Women as leaders"
2002
This award was given in recognition of Dr. Lysova’s research and professional activities addressing violence against women in Russia.
