Citation

Williamson GM, Silverman JG. J. Soc. Pers. Relat. 2001; 18(4): 535-549.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0265407501184006

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Data from 172 male university students provide evidence for the role of communal orientation (dispositional beliefs that relationship partners should be mutually responsive to each other's needs) in predicting violence against female partners. Associating with peers who verbally endorse and behaviorally model dating violence predicted participants' violent behavior. In addition, communal orientation, a personality trait not previously investigated in this context, was both directly and interactively related to dating violence. Men low in communal orientation were more likely to physically abuse their dating partners and to associate with peers who endorsed violence against female partners and who were themselves abusive. Moreover, less communal men appeared to be more subject than their highly communal counterparts to the influence of peers.