Learning Courtship Aggression: The Influence of Parents, Peers, and Personal Experiences

Abstract

Using a differential association/social learning framework and sex role theory, we examine four research questions concerning the zero-order and relative influences of parents, peers, and individuals' personal experiences on courtship aggression. We examine data separately for aggressors and victims as well as females and males, and we distinguish among three types of courtship aggression: abuse, violence, and sexual aggression. The results, from a random sample of college students, indicate that influences most proximate in time and place affect courtship aggression most strongly; that is, individuals' own experiences as victims and perpetrators are stronger influences than parents and peers in predicting courtship aggression. Patterns of results vary by type of aggressive behavior and sex of respondent.'This research was a collaborative endeavor, and each author made significant contributions. It was conducted in part with grants from the Center for the Study of Women in Society at the University of Oregon. The authors are grateful to M. R. Laner for comments, K. E. Lane for an early survey of literature, and L. Kelm, M. Freer (Oregon),

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