Citation

Llorens NG, Salis KL, O'Leary DK, Hayward J. J. Fam. Violence 2016; 31(1): 75-83.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10896-015-9750-6

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current study focuses on reasons why most women do not engage in physical aggression against their partner. The sample consists of 170 women, aged 18-35 from across the US. In an online questionnaire, 34% of the sample reported using physical aggression against a partner. Primary reasons for engaging in aggression were "anger [73%]" and "temper [68%]." For those who were not aggressive, primary deterrents were beliefs that "using aggression is inappropriate [72%]" and "under no circumstances is physical aggression okay [71%]." Physically aggressive females were less satisfied with relationships, more accepting of physical violence, and felt more provoked in conflict situations. Across varied studies assessing reasons for physical aggression against a partner, anger is perceived as most prevalent, though a meta-analysis found that trait anger has a small association with intimate partner aggression. The strikingly different results indicate the need for research to reconcile this discrepancy.

Language: en