Motives for physical dating violence among college students: A gendered analysis.

Abstract

Objective: Little research examines factors contributing to specific motives for physical dating violence (DV) perpetration. This study explores this gap in the literature with a specific focus on gender, coping, DV perpetration and victimization, and attitudes toward violence. Method: The sample included 221 college students who reported a history of physical DV perpetration and completed surveys for course credit. Results: Physical DV motivated by emotional expression/dysregulation was associated with physical DV perpetration frequency and disengagement coping for the full sample, and associated with accepting attitudes toward physical DV among women only. Physical DV motivated by control/tough guise was associated with accepting attitudes toward physical DV for the full sample, and physical DV perpetration frequency more strongly for men than women. Physical DV motivated by self-defense was associated with disengagement coping for the full sample, DV perpetration frequency for men, and physical DV victimization frequency more strongly for women than men. Conclusion: Results suggest that DV prevention programming for college students should incorporate focus on coping skills and decreasing accepting attitudes of DV. Results also provide preliminary support for gender-specific tailoring of programs that incorporate emotion regulation and communication skills for women; and among men, deconstructing patriarchal values among frequent perpetrators.

Narratives About Specific Romantic Conflicts: Gender and Associations With Conflict Beliefs and Strategies

“…Contrary to our expectations, breakup anxiety was related to more perpetration of aggression for men but not for women. When interpreting unmet needs as threatening to the viability of their relationship, men may be more likely to use aggression, perhaps in a counterproductive attempt to control their partner and get their needs met (E. L. Kelley, Edwards, Dardis, & Gidycz, 2015). Breakup anxiety may motivate men more than women to pursue immediate self-centered rather than relationship-oriented goals (Dutton & Goodman, 2005), making them more susceptible to acting on aggressive impulses toward their partners (Finkel, DeWall, Slotter, Oaten, & Foshee, 2009).…”

Hombres violentos contra la pareja: ¿tienen un trastorno mental y requieren tratamiento psicológico?

“…Déficits en habilidades de comunicación y de solución de problemas los maltratadores suelen presentar unas habilidades de comunicación muy pobres y una baja tolerancia a la frustración, así como estrategias inadecuadas para solucionar los problemas (Kelley et al, 2015). Estos déficits, unidos a los conflictos y los problemas cotidianos, pueden generar un estrés permanente y actuar como desencadenantes de los episodios violentos contra la pareja.…”

“…No es fácil responder a la pregunta de por qué los hombres se comportan de forma violenta precisamente en la relación de pareja, que suele constituir un reducto de intimidad y de ternura. la conducta violenta en este contexto suele ser resultado de un estado emocional intenso -la ira-, que interactúa con unas actitudes previas de hostilidad, un repertorio de conductas pobres (déficits de habilidades de comunicación y de solución de problemas o dependencia emocional) y unos factores precipitantes, entre otros, las situaciones de estrés, el abuso de alcohol/drogas o los celos (Kelley, edwards, Dardis, y gidycz, 2015).…”

Attitudes toward Intimate Partner Violence and Intimate Partner Acceptance-Rejection among Cape Verdean students living in Portugal

“…One of the hypotheses of our study is that female Cape Verdeans in Portugal are probably reproducing this reactive tendency, widely reported in literature and also recognized in Portugal, usually referred to as mutual violence. In fact, girls are frequently described as circumstantial aggressors, using violence, in dating relationships, particularly as a self-defence strategy (Kelley, Edwards, Dardis, & Gidycz, 2015). Thus, they tend to use violence as an approach to end chronic abuse (ICIEG, 2006), which can put them in very dangerous situations.…”