The Contribution of Moral Disengagement to Dating Violence and General Aggression: The Gender and Age Moderating Effects

Abstract

The main aims of this study were, first to analyze the partial effects of specific mechanisms of moral disengagement (MMD) on different manifestations of general aggression and dating violence (DV) in adolescents and youths; second, to explore the moderating effects of gender and age on these relations. Moral disengagement, and different forms of aggression and DV, were evaluated in a sample of 424 participants (61.1% women) aged 15 to 25 years (M = 18.80; SD = 2.69). Pearson correlations and different hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. All regressions were controlled by social desirability . MMD contributed to physical aggression with a medium effect size (R2 = .22) and verbal aggression with a small effect size (R2 = .10). Conversely, MMD did not appear to clearly contribute to DV. In conclusion, depersonalization and rationalization were the most important MMD for physical aggression, rationalization for verbal aggression, and irresponsibility for verbal-emotional violence in dating relationships. Moreover, the relationships between physical aggression and rationalization mechanism were significantly moderated by gender: there appears to be a stronger relationship between rationalization and physical aggression in boys than in girls. Moderating effects of age on these relations were not found.

Synergy between Acceptance of Violence and Sexist Attitudes as a Dating Violence Risk Factor

“…Exposure to certain forms of aggression may arouse a more active search for justifications that reduce the importance of the suffering experienced, and lead to greater acceptance of the situations being lived through. The need to protect one's self-esteem so as not to feel victimized, or not to see the increase in pain from the aggressions suffered, stimulates the activation of connection mechanisms of moral disengagement that alleviate this tension and force an acceptance of such abuses [17].…”

“…There are a number of mediating factors that can help or hinder the adoption of the roles of aggressor or victim. They include moral adjustment [17], adaptive or maladaptive mental schemes [18], the influence of the peer group [19], among others. Likewise, Orpinas et al [13] warn that the degree of acceptance of violence is linked to the degree of involvement as victims or aggressors, and Karlsson et al [20] indicate that the level of acceptance of violence decreases as adolescents get older.…”

When Are Sexist Attitudes Risk Factors for Dating Aggression? The Role of Moral Disengagement in Spanish Adolescents

“…The risk appeared only when adolescents were extremely hostile and disengaged. Overall, these findings allow us to understand the low-to-moderate correlations between dating aggression and sexism [ 35 ] and MD [ 49 ] that have been found in studies focused on the direct association of sexism and MD and dating aggression. According to the multidimensional nature of dating violence, it is important to understand how individual and contextual risk factors interact to precipitate aggression.…”

“…Our results seem to be in line with those studies that emphasised the contribution of both hostile and benevolent sexism to dating aggression, but also indicate that only high levels of sexism and mostly very high levels of hostile sexism put adolescents at risk of dating aggression. These adolescents also presented high levels of MD, facilitating the justification of their actions and minimising emotional discomfort when aggression towards the partner occurred [ 49 ].…”

“…Regarding dating aggression, there are few studies focused on its association with MD. Rubio-Garay and colleagues [ 49 ] found small-to-medium associations between MD and physical and verbal aggression. Cuadrado-Gordillo et al [ 50 ] reported similar results; MD increased the risk for couple victimisation.…”