Putting the brakes on aggression toward a romantic partner: The inhibitory influence of relationship commitment.

Abstract

Why do people behave aggressively toward romantic partners, and what can put the brakes on this aggression? Provocation robustly predicts aggression in both intimate and nonintimate relationships. Four methodologically diverse studies tested the hypothesis that provocation severity and relationship commitment interact to predict aggression toward one's romantic partner, with the aggression-promoting effects of provocation diminishing as relationship commitment increases. Across all four studies, commitment to one's romantic relationship inhibited aggression toward one's partner when individuals were severely (but not mildly) provoked. Study 4 tested the hypothesis that this Partner Provocation × Commitment interaction effect would be strong among individuals high in dispositional tendencies toward retaliation but weak (perhaps even nonexistent) among individuals low in such tendencies. Discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding instigating, impelling, and inhibiting processes in the perpetration of aggression toward intimate partners.

Commitment and Dyadic Coping in Long-Term Relationships

“…Finally, much of previous research has concentrated on individual analysis of commitment (Rusbult, Johnson, & Morrow, 1986;Slotter et al, 2012), relationship satisfaction and also on partners' individually assessed pro-relationship efforts (Dainton & Aylor, 2002;Rabby, 2007) so far. Therefore, this study contributes an important aspect as it takes into account dyadic analysis, treating intimate couples as one entity, and looking in depth at non-independent processes on the level of dyad members.…”

The Manhattan effect: When relationship commitment fails to promote support for partners’ interests.

“…That is, Study 3's daily diary procedures allowed us to predict support for the partner's personal goal-pursuit on a given day from within-person daily fluctuations in relationship commitment, relationship threat associated with that goal-pursuit, and personal threat associated with that goal-pursuit. Prior research suggests that relationship commitment fluctuates to some degree from one day to the next (e.g., Knee, Patrick, Vietor, & Neighbors, 2004;Slotter et al, 2012), and we sought to leverage this fact to test whether different levels of daily relationship and…”

Do they Aggress Earlier? Investigating the Effects of Ego Depletion on Police Officers’ Use of Force Behavior

“…Despite such a capacity for self-regulation, there are numerous examples in everyday life in which self-control fails. Risky sexual behavior, overeating, drug and alcohol abuse, and aggression can exemplify consequences of a failure to regulate behavior (Baumeister et al 1993;Denson et al 2012;DeWall et al 2011;Finkel et al 2009;Quinn and Fromme 2010;Slotter et al 2012;Stinson et al 2008).…”