Convergence analysis of non-quadratic proximal methods for variational inequalities in Hilbert spaces

We consider a general approach for the convergence analysis of proximal-like methods for solving variational inequalities with maximal monotone operators in a Hilbert space. It proves to be that the conditions on the choice of a non-quadratic distance functional depend on the geometrical properties of the operator in the variational inequality, and –- in particular –- a standard assumption on the strict convexity of the kernel of the distance functional can be weakened if this operator possesses a certain `reserve of monotonicity'. A successive approximation of the `feasible set' is performed, and the arising auxiliary problems are solved approximately. Weak convergence of the proximal iterates to a solution of the original problem is proved.