Top

Published in:

01-02-2007 | Original Article

Observed Initiation and Reciprocity of Physical Aggression in Young, At-Risk Couples

Authors: Deborah M. Capaldi, Hyoun K. Kim, Joann Wu Shortt

Published in: Journal of Family Violence | Issue 2/2007

Abstract

The present study examined sex differences in initiation of physical aggression as observed during discussion tasks and in the likelihood of a similar response from the partner. In addition, patterns for men and women in the prevalence of aggression initiation and partner reciprocation across 4 time points spanning approximately 9 years from late adolescence through the mid-20s are examined, as well as overall associations with reported aggression and injuries. Findings indicated that the young women were more likely than the men to initiate physical aggression at late adolescence. However, by the mid-20s in early adulthood there were no significant sex differences in initiation rates. The average rates of reciprocation across the 4 time points appeared to be similar for men and women. Women and men appeared more likely to report injuries if the couples observed involved mutual physical aggression in their interactions.

Archer, J. (2000). Sex differences in aggression between heterosexual partners: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 126, 651–680.PubMedCrossRef

Barnett, O. W., Lee, C. Y., & Thelen, R. E. (1997). Gender differences in attributions of self-defense and control in interpartner aggression. Violence Against Women, 3, 462–481.PubMed

Brush, L. (1990). Violent acts and injurious outcomes in married couples: Methodological issues in the National Survey of Families and Households. Gender & Society, 4, 156–167.

Buss, D. M. (1987). Selection, evocation, and manipulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 1214–1221.PubMedCrossRef

Capaldi, D. M., & Crosby, L. (1997). Observed and reported psychological and physical aggression in young, at-risk couples. Social Development, 6, 184–206.CrossRef

Capaldi, D. M., Crosby, L., & Stoolmiller, M. (1996). Predicting the timing of first sexual intercourse for at-risk adolescent males. Child Development, 67, 344–359.PubMedCrossRef

Capaldi, D. M., & Gorman-Smith, D. (2003). The development of aggression in young male/female couples. In P. Florsheim (Ed.), Adolescent romantic relations and sexual behavior: Theory, research, and practical implications (pp. 243–278), Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Capaldi, D. M., Kim, H. K., & Shortt, J. W. (2004). Women’s involvement in aggression in young adult romantic relationships: A developmental systems model. In M. Putallez, & K. L. Bierman (Eds.), Aggression, antisocial behavior, and violence among girls: A developmental perspective (pp. 223–241), New York: Guilford Press.

Capaldi, D. M., & Owen, L. D. (2001). Physical aggression in a community sample of at-risk young couples: Gender comparisons for high frequency, injury, and fear. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 425–440.PubMedCrossRef

Capaldi, D. M., Shortt, J. W., & Crosby, L. (2003). Physical and psychological aggression in at-risk young couples: Stability and change in young adulthood. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 49, 1–27.CrossRef

Cascardi, M., Langhinrichsen, J., & Vivian, D. (1992). Marital aggression, impact, injury, and health correlates for husbands and wives. Archives of Internal Medicine, 152, 1178–1184.PubMedCrossRef

Cascardi, M., & Vivian, D. (1995). Context for specific episodes of marital violence: Gender and severity of violence differences. Journal of Family Violence, 10, 265–293.CrossRef

Cohen, J. A. (1960). A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 20, 37–46.

Cordova, J. V., Jacobson, N. S., Gottman, J. M., Rushe, R., & Cox, G. (1993). Negative reciprocity and communication in couples with a violent husband. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 104, 559–564.CrossRef

DeMaris, A. (1992). Male versus female initiation of aggression: The case of courtship violence. In E. C. Viano (Ed.), Intimate violence: Interdisciplinary perspectives (pp. 111–120), Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

Dishion, T. J., Andrews, D. W., & Crosby, L. (1995). Antisocial boys and their friends in adolescence: Relationship characteristics, quality, and interactional processes. Child Development, 66, 139–151.PubMedCrossRef

Feld, S. L., & Straus, M. A. (1989). Escalation and desistance of wife assault in marriage. Criminology, 27, 141–161.CrossRef

Fiebert, M. S., & Gonzalez, D. M. (1997). College women who initiate assaults on their male partners and the reasons offered for such behavior. Psychological Reports, 80, 583–590.PubMed

Follingstad, D. R., Wright, S., Lloyd, S., & Sebastian, J. A. (1991). Sex differences in motivations and effects in dating violence. Family Relations, 40, 51–57.CrossRef

Gelles, R. J., & Straus, M. A. (1988). Intimate violence: The causes and consequences of abuse in the American family. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Gergen, M. (1990). Beyond the evil empire: Horsesplay and aggression. Aggression and Behavior, 16, 381–398.

Gray, H. M., & Foshee, V. A. (1997). Adolescent dating violence: Differences between one-sided and mutually violent profiles. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 12, 126–141.

Harned, M. S. (2001). Abused women or abused men? An examination of the context and outcomes of dating violence. Violence and Victims, 16, 269–285.PubMed

Henton, J. M., Cate, R. M., Koval, J., Lloyd, S., & Christopher, F. S. (1983). Romance and violence in dating relationships. Journal of Family Issues, 4, 467–482.

Johnson, M. P. (1995). Patriarchal terrorism and common couple violence: Two forms of violence against women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 283–294.CrossRef

Kessler, R. C. (1990). The national comorbidity survey. DIS Newsletter, 7(12), 1–2.

Kim, H. K., & Capaldi, D. M. (2004). The association of antisocial behavior and depressive symptoms between partners and risk for aggression in romantic relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 82–96.PubMedCrossRef

Lawrence, E. (2002). Emerging perspectives in the study of physical aggression in intimate relationships. Couples Research and Therapy, 8, 3–6.

Makepeace, J. M. (1986). Gender differences in courtship violence victimization. Family Relations, 35, 383–388.CrossRef

Markman, H. J., Notarius, C. I., Stephen, T., & Smith, T. (1981). Behavioral observation systems for couples: The current status. In E. Filsinger, & R. Lewis (Eds.), Assessing marriage: New behavioral approaches. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Morse, B. J. (1995). Beyond the Conflict Tactics Scales: Assessing gender differences in partner violence. Violence and Victims, 10, 251–272.PubMed

O’Leary, K. D. (1999). Developmental and affective issues in assessing and treating partner aggression. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6, 400–414.CrossRef

O’Leary, K. D., & Slep, A. M. S. (2003). A dyadic longitudinal model of adolescent dating aggression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32, 314–327.

Patterson, G. R., Reid, J. B., & Dishion, T. J. (1992). A social learning approach: Antisocial boys (Vol. 4). Eugene, OR: Castalia Publishing.

Scarr, S., & McCartney, K. (1983). How people make their own environments: A theory of genotype leading to environment effects. Child Development, 54, 424–435.PubMed

Stets, J. E., & Straus, M. A. (1990). Gender differences in reporting marital violence and its medical and psychological consequences. In M. A. Straus, & R. J. Gelles (Eds.), Physical violence in American families: Risk factors and adaptations to violence in 8,145 families (pp. 151–166). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.

Straus, M. A. (1997). Physical assaults by women partners: A major social problem. In M. R. Walsh (Ed.), Women, men and gender: Ongoing debates. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The revised conflict tactics scales (CTS2): Development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17, 283–316.

Stubbs, J., Crosby, L., Forgatch, M., & Capaldi, D. M. (1998). Family and Peer Process Code: Training manual: A synthesis of three OSLC behavior codes. Eugene OR: Oregon Social Learning Center.

Sugarman, D. B., & Hotaling, G. I. (1989). Dating violence: Prevalence, context, and risk markers. In M. A. Pirog-Good, & J. E. Stets (Eds.), Violence in dating relationships: Emerging social issues (pp. 3–32). New York: Praeger.

Swan, S. C., & Snow, D. L. (2002). A typology of women’s use of violence in intimate relationships. Violence Against Women, 8, 286–319.CrossRef

Swan, S. C., & Snow, D. L. (2003). Behavioral and psychological differences among women who use violence in intimate relationships. Violence Against Women, 9, 75–109.CrossRef

Walker, L. E. (1989). Psychology and violence against women. American Journal of Psychology, 44, 695–702.CrossRef

Watson, J. M., Cascardi, M., Avery-Leaf, S., & O’Leary, K. D. (2001). High school students’ responses to dating aggression. Violence and Victims, 16, 339–348.PubMed

Yllö, K. A. (1993). Through a feminist lens: Gender, power, and violence. In R. J. Gelles & D. R. Loseke (Eds.), Current controversies on family violence (pp. 3–32). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Title: Observed Initiation and Reciprocity of Physical Aggression in Young, At-Risk Couples
Authors: Deborah M. Capaldi
Hyoun K. Kim
Joann Wu Shortt
Publication date: 01-02-2007
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers
Published in: Journal of Family Violence / Issue 2/2007
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-007-9067-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Observed Initiation and Reciprocity of Physical Aggression in Young, At-Risk Couples

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2007

An Investigation of a Community-based Intervention for Socially Isolated Parents with a History of Child Maltreatment

Personality Profiles in a Group of Battered Women: Clinical and Care Implications

Relationship Religiosity, Adult Attachment Styles, and Courtship Violence Experienced by Females

Characteristics of Callers to the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men

Short Term Change in Attitude and Motivating Factors to Change Abusive Behavior of Male Batterers after Participating in a Group Intervention Program Based on the Pro-Feminist and Cognitive-Behavioral Approach