Dating violence through the lens of adolescent romantic relationships.

Abstract

The articles in the focus section of this issue center on a particular form of relationship violence that occurs during a particularly challenging developmental period: adolescence. Although large-scale surveys have documented the prevalence of abuse in teen dating relationships (i.e. more than 25% of male and female high school students report having experienced some form of physical abuse in a dating relationship; Foshee 1996; OKeefe 1997) it often escapes attention or concern. Presumably the laissez-faire attitude that has long existed toward many of the struggles of adolescence reflects the dismissive way we often treat teens attempts at finding romantic love. Although many of us have overlooked its developmental significance until very recently researchers and practitioners who have an interest in child maltreatment have the least difficulty grasping the importance of dating violence in the transmission of violence and abuse across the life span. Violence and abuse toward an intimate partner is arguably the most common form of violence in society (Wolfe Wekerle & Scott 1997). Broadly defined it encompasses any attempt to control or dominate another person physically sexually or psychologically resulting in harm. However how do violence and abuse develop? Are they so common that they should be considered developmentally normal or are they connected to important individual family and cultural experiences that can be addressed earlier on? These are some of the critical questions raised by these provocative articles which we would like to emphasize in our commentary. (excerpt)