Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
Biological sensitivity to context in couples: why partner aggression hurts some more than others
Michael F Lorber1, Ann C Eckardt Erlanger, Amy M Smith Slep
1Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care, New York University, New York, NY, USA. lorber2@gmail.com
Objective:
Cardiovascular reactivity to laboratory stressors was investigated as (a) a moderator of associations of partner aggression with affective functioning, alcohol problems, and parenting; and (b) a consequence of partner aggression.
Method:
Cohabiting adult couples (N = 453) with 3- to 7-year-old children were recruited by random digit dialing and completed questionnaires assessing couple physical aggression, discipline practices, anger, stress, depressive symptoms, and problem alcohol use. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured at rest and in response to laboratory stressors (mental arithmetic and video presentations of family conflict).
Results:
Males' physical aggression more strongly predicted women's affective functioning and alcohol problems when the women had greater cardiovascular reactivity. This pattern did not extend to men. Physical victimization was associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity.
Conclusions:
The present results provide partial support for the biological sensitivity to context model of Boyce and Ellis (2005) and suggest that incorporating the moderating influence of biological reactivity may improve the precision of models of the effects of aggression on adult adjustment.
Related Concept Videos
Aggression
Jealousy in Romantic Relationships
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
Evolutionary Psychology
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Relationship Formation

