Citation

Babcock JC, Green CE, Webb SA, Graham KH. J. Fam. Psychol. 2004; 18(2): 396-400.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Houston, TX 77204-5022, USA. jbabcock@uh.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/0893-3200.18.2.396

PMID

15222846

Abstract

The present study attempts to replicate Gottman et al.'s (1995; see record 1995-44075-001; and Jacobson & Gottman, 1998) psychophysiological study that classifies partner assaultive men into two distinct groups: heart rate (HR) decelerators (Type 1 batterers) and HR accelerators (Type 2 batterers). Current results indicate no significant differences between Type 1 and Type 2 batterers on the antisocial spectrum of behaviors. Resting HR, rather than HR change, was negatively related to the antisocial spectrum of behavior for batterers with severe, clinical levels of violence only. Reasons for subsequent failures to replicate the Type 1 versus Type 2 distinctions may be attributable to unusually high autonomic arousal during baseline in the original study. Consideration of resting HR and the use of dimensional as opposed to categorical approaches in analyzing the heterogeneity of batterers are proposed as possible solutions to clarifying inconsistencies across laboratories.

Language: en