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The Relation Between Contempt, Anger, and Intimate Partner Violence: A Dyadic Approach
Johannah Sommer1, Susan Iyican1, Julia Babcock1
11 University of Houston, TX, USA.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|August 21, 2016
Summary
This study found that contemptuous communication in couples predicts both one's own and their partner's physical assault perpetration. Targeting negative communication may reduce intimate partner violence (IPV).
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant societal issue, with bidirectional violence common in heterosexual relationships.
- Dysfunctional communication and conflict are linked to relationship distress and increased risk of IPV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between distressed communication (contempt, anger) during conflict and IPV perpetration in heterosexual couples.
- To utilize dyadic data analysis to understand the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model in relation to IPV.
Main Methods:
- Employed the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for dyadic data analysis.
- Analyzed communication patterns (contempt, anger) during laboratory conflict discussions.
- Included a large, ethnically diverse sample of heterosexual couples.
Main Results:
- Contemptuous communication was associated with an individual's own physical assault perpetration and their partner's perpetration.
- Anger during conflict was associated only with an individual's own physical assault perpetration.
Conclusions:
- Negative communication, particularly contempt, plays a significant role in intimate partner violence perpetration.
- Interventions targeting negative communication patterns and affect show promise for reducing IPV.
Keywords:
communicationconflict discussiondomestic violenceintimate partner violencespecific affect codingMore Related Videos
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