Introduction: Attachment theory focuses on the emergence and development of models acquired during child development and on the role that such models play in future interpersonal relationships throughout the life cycle 1 . The insecure attachment can be seen as a risk factor for intimate partner violence. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate attachment as a risk factor, mainly analyse the relationship between adult attachment, beliefs about intimate violence, aggression, and the presence of psychopathology in adulthood. Materials and methods: Data was collected in Victims Information and Assistance Office (partnership with Egas Moniz High University), between 2014 and 2018 from lawsuits, semi-structured interviews of the defendant, collateral information and clinical and forensic assessment tools e.g. Experiences in Close Relationships, Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998; Portuguese Version Moreira, et al., 2006; Scale of Beliefs about Marital Violence, Matos, Machado & Gonçalves, 2000; Aggression Questionnaire, Buss & Perry, 1992; Portuguese Version Simões, 1993; Brief Symptom Inventory, Derogatis, 1993; Portuguese Version Canavarro, 1995). Defendants signed an informed consent term, which contained the goal of the evaluation, the limits of the confidentiality, and also information about the ethics and impartiality of the technicians. A total of 41 intimate partner violence offenders were evaluate. Results: The results show us that 21 offenders had a secure attachment and 20 had an insecure attachment (assess the two basic dimensions of individual differences in adult attachment style, namely avoidance and preoccupation). We found a positive association between preoccupation and beliefs about violence, namely minimizing small acts of violence (r=.55; p=.00), supporting violence through women's misconduct (r=.36; p=.02), supporting violence through family privacy (r=.41; p=.00) and the general level of tolerance/acceptance of physical and psychological violence (r=.48; p=.00). There is a significant correlation between preoccupation and aggression (r=.52; p=.00), specifically anger (r=.48; p=.00) and hostility (r=.44; p=.00). Finally, we corroborate a relationship between preoccupation and psychopathology: Somatization (r=.34; p=.02), interpersonal sensitivity (r=.40; p=.01), depression (r=.44; p=.00), hostility (r=.37; p=.01), phobic anxiety (r=.49; p=.00) and psychoticism (r=.45; p=.00). Discussion and conclusions: The data demonstrated that some offenders tends to develop an insecure attachment in their intimate relationships, have an intense concern with relationships and a constant desire of closeness and obsession with abandonment and loss of intimacy. In a global analysis it appears that the attachment is relate with beliefs, aggression and psychopathology. In fact, these results allow aid professionals and institutions to have a deep knowledge about adult attachment as a risk factor.