Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Aggression

Aggression

Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire...

Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals in intimate relationships address conflicts, improve communication, and foster healthier dynamics. It is appropriate for couples at various stages, including those who are dating, married, or in long-term partnerships, and aims to support partners in navigating their unique relational challenges.
Core Principles and Techniques
Couples therapy often incorporates cognitive-behavioral principles to identify and modify negative...

Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation

Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation

Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...

Jealousy in Romantic Relationships

Jealousy in Romantic Relationships

Jealousy is an instinctive yet socially complex emotion that arises when a close relationship is threatened. Its origins lie in both biological imperatives and sociocultural conditioning, making it a multifaceted psychological construct. Although universally experienced, the triggers and expressions of jealousy vary notably between individuals, especially across genders, due to evolutionary pressures and cultural influences.Gender Differences and Evolutionary TheoryEvolutionary theory explains...

Ending Relationships

Ending Relationships

The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Understanding the Associations Between Attachment Insecurity, Emotional Flooding, and Conflict Behaviors in Prenatal Couples.

Journal of marital and family therapy·2026

Same author

Internalized stigma, negative affect, and intimate partner violence perpetration among sexual minority couples.

Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)·2026

Same author

A Qualitative Study of Couple Therapy Exclusion Practices Related to Mutual Physical Intimate Partner Violence.

Journal of marital and family therapy·2026

Same author

Changes in Police Contact After Admission to the Assertive Community Treatment With Police Integration Program.

Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)·2025

Same author

The Interplay of Biomarkers and Psychosocial Variables in IPV Perpetration.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Perceptions of Conflict at the Transition to Parenthood: Exploring Adult Attachment Pairings as Predictors of Emotional Flooding.

Family process·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Published on: May 30, 2025

A brief motivational intervention for physically aggressive dating couples.

Erica M Woodin¹, K Daniel O'Leary

¹Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada. ewoodin@uvic.ca

Prevention Science : the Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research

|April 20, 2010

Summary

Motivational interviewing effectively reduced physical aggression and harmful alcohol use in college dating couples. This brief intervention also decreased acceptance of psychological aggression, improving relationship functioning.

More Related Videos

Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models

Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models

Published on: December 23, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Published on: May 30, 2025

Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models

Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models

Published on: December 23, 2025

Area of Science:

Psychology
Public Health
Criminology

Background:

Partner aggression is a significant issue in emerging adulthood relationships.
Existing interventions often lack targeted approaches for this demographic.
Motivational interviewing (MI) shows promise for behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effectiveness of MI as a targeted prevention for partner aggression.
To assess MI's impact on physical and psychological aggression in college dating couples.
To examine MI's influence on alcohol use and relationship functioning.

Main Methods:

50 college dating couples (18-25 years) reporting male-to-female physical aggression participated.
Couples were randomized to either a 2-hour MI feedback session or a control group.
Follow-up surveys were conducted at 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

The MI group showed significant reductions in physical aggression and harmful alcohol use compared to controls.
MI intervention led to decreased acceptance of psychological aggression (male and female) among women.
Reductions in physical aggression were linked to decreased psychological aggression and lower acceptance of aggression.

Conclusions:

Brief motivational interviewing is an effective prevention strategy for high-risk dating couples.
The intervention positively impacts both individual behavior and overall relationship functioning.
Findings support MI's utility in addressing partner aggression in emerging adulthood.