Etiological Characteristics of Abusive Husbands

Abstract

This study compared abusive husbands with nonabusive, marital discordant husbands using six measures to ascertain certain etiological characteristics of abusers. Both groups completed the Jenkins Activity Survey for measuring type A behavior, the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, the Index of Self-Esteem, the Spence-Helmrich Attitudes Toward Women Scale, the Index of Marital Satisfaction, and a simple rating scale to access their perceptions of their wives' physical attractiveness. As predicted, abusers evidence significantly higher type A behaviors, higher problem drinking behaviors, more rigid attitudes toward women, lower marital satisfaction, and rated their wives as less attractive than did nonabusers. Inconsistent with the literature, however, no significant differences were discovered between the self-esteem of abusers and nonabusers.