scholarly journals Control and Intimate Partner Aggression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Dempsey
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Partner Aggression ◽  
Coercive Control ◽  
Considerable Heterogeneity ◽  
Intimate Partner Aggression ◽  
Controlling Behaviors

<p>Control is fundamental to theoretical conceptualizations of intimate partner aggression (IPA). In particular, it has been instrumental in the development of typologies of IPA, where control has been associated with more frequent and serious IPA carried out by men against women. Consequently, the concept of control has heavily influenced the design of treatment and legislation targeting partner violence. However, there is considerable theoretical divergence as to how control should be conceptualized, operationalized, and measured. This thesis comprises a series of studies designed to test the validity of some of the key theoretical assumptions that inform the common conceptualizations of control by examining control as a behavior, as a motivation, and as an outcome. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the thesis rationale and objectives. Chapter 2 investigated the theoretical assumption that non-physical ‘controlling behaviors’ (e.g., restricting access to money; threatening harm) comprise a unique form of IPA. Exploratory (N = 561) and confirmatory (N = 424) factor analyses on 54 measures used across the IPA literature identified three forms of aggression: Eclectic Aggression, Direct Psychological Aggression, Monitoring Acts. There was no evidence for a distinct form of ‘controlling behaviors’. Chapter 3 systematically reviewed the literature on motivations for physical and psychological IPA. The review aimed to appraise the quality of the literature and ascertain which motivations had the largest effect sizes. A meta-analysis of the motivations for physical IPA suggested self-defense, retaliation for emotional hurt, and communication difficulties had larger effect sizes than control. Chapter 4 investigated the assumptions that control motivations are associated with more severe and frequent IPA and IPA perpetrated by men. Categorical principal and latent class analyses (N = 1166) found considerable heterogeneity in motivations for IPA for both genders, but no evidence of distinct patterns or profiles of controlling motivations for either men or women. Chapter 5 investigated the assumptions that coercive control is experienced exclusively by women and is related to experiencing specific types and more frequent IPA (N = 1174). Evidence did not support a “coercive control” pattern or profile in people who experienced IPA, or that coercive control outcomes were gendered, or associated with the type or the frequency of IPA behaviors used. Regressing the item-average of coercive control outcomes on experiences of IPA in a path analysis provided some evidence that gender and experiences of physical and psychological aggression predicted feelings of coercive control. Collectively, the results of the thesis identified considerable heterogeneity in the patterns of behaviors, motivations and outcomes for IPA. The evidence challenges existing conceptualizations of control as a distinct and gendered construct and indicates the need for the development of a theoretical explanation of control, that is both gender-inclusive and multi-factorial, to guide future research.</p>

scholarly journals Control and Intimate Partner Aggression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Dempsey
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Partner Aggression ◽  
Coercive Control ◽  
Considerable Heterogeneity ◽  
Intimate Partner Aggression ◽  
Controlling Behaviors

<p>Control is fundamental to theoretical conceptualizations of intimate partner aggression (IPA). In particular, it has been instrumental in the development of typologies of IPA, where control has been associated with more frequent and serious IPA carried out by men against women. Consequently, the concept of control has heavily influenced the design of treatment and legislation targeting partner violence. However, there is considerable theoretical divergence as to how control should be conceptualized, operationalized, and measured. This thesis comprises a series of studies designed to test the validity of some of the key theoretical assumptions that inform the common conceptualizations of control by examining control as a behavior, as a motivation, and as an outcome. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the thesis rationale and objectives. Chapter 2 investigated the theoretical assumption that non-physical ‘controlling behaviors’ (e.g., restricting access to money; threatening harm) comprise a unique form of IPA. Exploratory (N = 561) and confirmatory (N = 424) factor analyses on 54 measures used across the IPA literature identified three forms of aggression: Eclectic Aggression, Direct Psychological Aggression, Monitoring Acts. There was no evidence for a distinct form of ‘controlling behaviors’. Chapter 3 systematically reviewed the literature on motivations for physical and psychological IPA. The review aimed to appraise the quality of the literature and ascertain which motivations had the largest effect sizes. A meta-analysis of the motivations for physical IPA suggested self-defense, retaliation for emotional hurt, and communication difficulties had larger effect sizes than control. Chapter 4 investigated the assumptions that control motivations are associated with more severe and frequent IPA and IPA perpetrated by men. Categorical principal and latent class analyses (N = 1166) found considerable heterogeneity in motivations for IPA for both genders, but no evidence of distinct patterns or profiles of controlling motivations for either men or women. Chapter 5 investigated the assumptions that coercive control is experienced exclusively by women and is related to experiencing specific types and more frequent IPA (N = 1174). Evidence did not support a “coercive control” pattern or profile in people who experienced IPA, or that coercive control outcomes were gendered, or associated with the type or the frequency of IPA behaviors used. Regressing the item-average of coercive control outcomes on experiences of IPA in a path analysis provided some evidence that gender and experiences of physical and psychological aggression predicted feelings of coercive control. Collectively, the results of the thesis identified considerable heterogeneity in the patterns of behaviors, motivations and outcomes for IPA. The evidence challenges existing conceptualizations of control as a distinct and gendered construct and indicates the need for the development of a theoretical explanation of control, that is both gender-inclusive and multi-factorial, to guide future research.</p>

scholarly journals Investigating the Relationship Between Approval and Experiences of Intimate Partner Aggression in Heterosexual Relationships

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Saara Cavanagh
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Female Aggression ◽  
Heterosexual Relationships ◽  
Partner Aggression ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Intimate Partner Aggression

<p>This study explored the relationship between participants’ approval of intimate partner aggression (IPA) and their experiences of IPA in heterosexual relationships. Male (n = 216) and female (n = 299) university students completed an online questionnaire that consisted of the Conflict Tactic Scale-2, the Controlling Behaviours Survey-revised, and the Beliefs about Relationship Aggression Scale. Bivariate analyses showed the majority of aggressive and controlling behaviours were perpetrated and experienced at similar rates between men and women. ANOVA found an interaction effect where both male and female participants held greater approval of female-to-male aggression, compared to male-to-female aggression, when provoked by physical, sexual, or psychological aggression, or infidelity. An interaction between participants’ gender and the aggressors’ gender in the vignettes showed men were significantly more approving of female aggression than women. ANOVA also demonstrated a main effect of perpetration status (aggressive/non-aggressive), where aggressive students approved of IPA more than non-aggressive students, regardless of the participant’s or the aggressor’s gender. These findings show that participants, especially male participants, hold chivalrous beliefs about IPA in heterosexual relationships. Although this chivalrous pattern also held for aggressive participants, aggressive men and women both displayed significantly higher approval of aggression by both male and female perpetrators than non-aggressive controls. Therefore, this study found perpetrators of IPA not only approve of aggression by their own gender significantly more than non-aggressors, but also tolerate aggression by the opposite gender more readily. The need for treatment to address beliefs that approve of IPA by both partners in heterosexual relationships, rather than gender specific beliefs, is discussed alongside other implications for practice and policy.</p>

scholarly journals Investigating the Relationship Between Approval and Experiences of Intimate Partner Aggression in Heterosexual Relationships

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Saara Cavanagh
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Female Aggression ◽  
Heterosexual Relationships ◽  
Partner Aggression ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Intimate Partner Aggression

<p>This study explored the relationship between participants’ approval of intimate partner aggression (IPA) and their experiences of IPA in heterosexual relationships. Male (n = 216) and female (n = 299) university students completed an online questionnaire that consisted of the Conflict Tactic Scale-2, the Controlling Behaviours Survey-revised, and the Beliefs about Relationship Aggression Scale. Bivariate analyses showed the majority of aggressive and controlling behaviours were perpetrated and experienced at similar rates between men and women. ANOVA found an interaction effect where both male and female participants held greater approval of female-to-male aggression, compared to male-to-female aggression, when provoked by physical, sexual, or psychological aggression, or infidelity. An interaction between participants’ gender and the aggressors’ gender in the vignettes showed men were significantly more approving of female aggression than women. ANOVA also demonstrated a main effect of perpetration status (aggressive/non-aggressive), where aggressive students approved of IPA more than non-aggressive students, regardless of the participant’s or the aggressor’s gender. These findings show that participants, especially male participants, hold chivalrous beliefs about IPA in heterosexual relationships. Although this chivalrous pattern also held for aggressive participants, aggressive men and women both displayed significantly higher approval of aggression by both male and female perpetrators than non-aggressive controls. Therefore, this study found perpetrators of IPA not only approve of aggression by their own gender significantly more than non-aggressors, but also tolerate aggression by the opposite gender more readily. The need for treatment to address beliefs that approve of IPA by both partners in heterosexual relationships, rather than gender specific beliefs, is discussed alongside other implications for practice and policy.</p>

Mean, uncommitted, and aggressive: Divergent associations between triarchic psychopathy, elements of love, and caustic relationship behaviors

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1193-1215
Author(s):  
Caitlyn Y. Mejia ◽  
John J. Donahue ◽  
Sally D. Farley
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Partner Aggression ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Relationship Outcomes ◽  
Intimate Partner Aggression

Two studies explored how the triarchic dimensions of psychopathy predicted relationship outcomes in nonclinical samples. In Study 1, using a predominantly student sample ( N = 100, 24% men, 76% women), results revealed significant negative associations between meanness and Sternberg’s (1997) components of love (intimacy, passion, and commitment). In Study 2, using a more gender-balanced online community sample ( N = 125, 53% men, 47% women), we replicated results from Study 1 and found additional negative associations between self-reported physical aggression, psychological aggression and love in intimate relationships. Further, multivariate analyses revealed that deficits in love explained incremental variance in intimate partner aggression, over and above the triarchic constructs of meanness and disinhibition. Implications for how dimensions of psychopathy manifest in close intimate relationships are discussed.

Intimate Partner Aggression and Work: An Interdisciplinary Review and Agenda for Future Research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Midel Deen ◽  
Yaqing He ◽  
Heath Gregg ◽  
Simon Lloyd D. Restubog ◽  
Anne O’Leary Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Partner Aggression ◽  
Intimate Partner Aggression

Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence Among Chinese Women: Patterns and Risk Factors

2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051988852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Hu ◽  
Jia Xue ◽  
Kai Lin ◽  
Ivan Y. Sun ◽  
Xiying Wang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Chinese Women ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Adult Women

Bidirectional intimate partner violence (BIPV) refers to the co-occurrence of violence perpetration by both partners. BIPV has been analyzed using samples from different sociodemographic contexts but has yet to be fully explored in China. The present study employed a latent class approach to identify BIPV patterns, rates of prevalence, and associated risk factors among a sample of 1,301 heterosexual adult women in mainland China. Five distinct patterns of BIPV were identified, including (a) bidirectional psychological aggression, (b) bidirectional violence of all types, (c) multi-type victimization with psychological aggression, (d) minimal violence, and (e) bidirectional multi-types without physical violence. Marital status, education, employment status, acceptance of male dominance, and justification of intimate partner violence (IPV) were found to be predictive of different types of BIPV. Our findings suggest a need for a conceptual recognition of the heterogeneity and bidirectionality of IPV among Chinese women. Future research should extend to other diverse populations and sociocultural or clinical contexts in China. IPV assessments, research, and social programs ought to recognize the complexity of IPV and consider various IPV patterns specific to heterosexual women.

Predicting Different Types of Intimate Partner Aggression Perpetration: The Roles of Problem Alcohol Use and Distress Tolerance

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052199083
Author(s):  
Nora K. Kline ◽  
Korine B. Cabrera ◽  
Kathleen M. Palm Reed
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
Distress Tolerance ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Physical Assault ◽  
Problem Alcohol Use ◽  
Intimate Partner Aggression ◽  
Problem Alcohol ◽  
Controlling Behaviors

Intimate partner aggression (IPA) victimization and substance use have been well established as risk factors for IPA perpetration ( Leonard, 2005 ; Sprunger et al., 2015 ). Recent research has identified a negative association between distress tolerance and physical and psychological IPA perpetration, specifically in males in substance use treatment ( Shorey et al., 2017 ). Research examining the interplay of problem substance use, distress tolerance, and other forms of IPA (i.e., sexual coercion, controlling behaviors) in non-clinical samples is limited. The present analysis aimed to examine the potential moderating effect of distress tolerance on problem alcohol use and four types of IPA perpetration (physical assault, psychological aggression, sexual coercion, and controlling behaviors) in a diverse, national sample ( N = 323; 44.3% female; 52.9% sexual minority; age M = 33.61 years, SD = 8.71). Results showed that alcohol use and distress tolerance had differing influences on each IPA perpetration type. In line with hypotheses, distress tolerance significantly moderated the relationship between problem alcohol use and two forms of IPA (physical assault and controlling behaviors); this relationship was stronger for individuals with low levels of distress tolerance. Significant interaction effects did not emerge for psychological aggression or sexual coercion. Findings suggest that treatment strategies that focus specifically on increasing distress tolerance may be effective in reducing alcohol-facilitated IPA perpetration involving physical assault and controlling behaviors.

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