Impelling and Inhibitory Forces in Aggression: Sex-of-Target and Relationship Effects

Abstract

The finding of symmetry in intimate partner aggression is now generally accepted, but the convergence of male and female rates in these relationships remains unexplained. From qualitative analysis of male and female focus group discussions, we identified factors believed to influence the expression of aggression toward targets differing in sex and degree of intimacy. These factors were then used to construct a questionnaire in which 355 respondents indicated the applicability of the items to conflicts with a partner, a same-sex friend, and an opposite-sex friend. Principal component analysis revealed a clear two-factor structure of impelling forces (tending to provoke or initiate aggression) and inhibitory forces (tending to suppress or diminish the likelihood of aggression). Participants' scores on scales derived from these two factors were used in the subsequent analyses. Men reported lower inhibition and greater impulsion toward same-sex friends than to female friends and partners, who did not differ significantly from one another. Women showed lower inhibition to male targets, regardless of relationship, than to a female target. However, women rated their male partners as significantly higher on impelling forces than their male friends, who in turn were rated significantly higher than female friends. The results are broadly consistent with a sex-of-target effect corresponding to a chivalry norm held by both sexes that inhibits the expression of aggression toward women. The reasons why women are especially impelled to aggression by intimate partners are explored. Disaggregating the dynamics of interpersonal conflict into impelling and inhibitory components may prove useful in understanding and treating dispute escalation and resolution.

Women as active agents: Female perpetrators of sexual harassment and domestic abuse.

“…This is consistent with previous findings that, in comparison to female-perpetrated abuse, male-perpetrated domestic abuse is deemed to be more reprehensible by the public (e.g. Davidovic, Bell, Ferguson, Gorski, Campbell, 2011;Felson & Feld, 2009;Harris & Cook, 1994).…”

The Effects of Intimacy and Target Sex on Direct Aggression: Further Evidence

“…The present data do not enable the effects of impelling factors, such as provocation, and inhibitory factors, such as fear, to be disentangled. It is likely, however, that both are important in determining how aggression varies toward different kinds of target [Davidovic et al, 2011].…”

Gender symmetry in intimate aggression: an effect of intimacy or target sex?

“…Given that attacking a woman is less dangerous in terms of the likelihood and possible severity of retaliation, it seems that the most likely candidate to explain this pattern is a norm of “chivalry” which proscribes aggression toward women [Felson, 2002; Felson and Feld, 2009]. Despite claims that the abuse of women by men is tolerated and even encouraged by a patriarchal society [Dobash and Dobash, 1979], the general public see aggression directed at women by men as more reprehensible [Davidovic et al, 2010 ] and more deserving of police intervention or criminal action [Felson and Feld, 2009; Sorenson and Taylor, 2005] than aggression directed at men by women. This normative prohibition holds true for aggression toward women who are partners [Feld and Felson, 2008; Sorenson and Taylor, 2005], acquaintances [Feld and Felson, 2008; Felson and Feld, 2009], or strangers [Golin and Romanowski, 1977; Taylor and Epstein, 1967].…”