Adolescent Attitudes to Abuse of Women

Abstract

Attitudes of three groups of adolescents were measured by means of two versions of Briere's Attitudes to Wife Abuse (AWA) scale. Self-reports of the likelihood of using physical violence in future relationships also were collected by means of four versions of Briere's Likelihood of Battering (LOB) scale. Results suggested that, overall, boys are more tolerant of domestic violence than girls. However, girls recorded a greater likelihood of using physical violence in future relationships than did boys. There was some suggestion that wives (or husbands) were viewed differently from nonmarital partners. Attitude measures indicated that if the attitudes expressed translate into action, in future relationships, women may be better off as partners than as wives, but behavior predicted by girls hinted that husbands might be subjects of higher expectations than nonmarital partners. Meanings of the results are explored, and implications of the findings considered.