Aggression In Romantic Relationships Research Articles

Relational aggression in romantic relationship: empirical evidence among young female adults in Malaysia

BackgroundAggressive behaviour in romantic relationship is a social problem of great concern. Studies related to the influence of psychosocial factors on relational aggression are still limited. Furthermore, these factors have not been widely studied in the local context, resulting in the issue of relational aggression among young female adults still not being addressed. This study aims to explore whether psychosocial factors such as big five personality traits, adult attachment style and loneliness could predict relational aggression in romantic relationships among young female adults in Malaysia. In addition, this study aims to identify the moderating effect of social support in the relationship between psychosocial factors and relational aggression in romantic relationship.MethodsA quantitative research approach was used with 424 young female adults in Malaysia aged between 18 and 30 years old (mean age = 24.18) were recruited through multistage sampling design by completing a questionnaire consisting of the Big Five Inventory (BFI), Experiences in Close Relationships Scale II (ECRS-II), Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, Measure of Relational Aggression and Victimization (MRAV) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).ResultsMultiple regression analysis predicted significant relationship between agreeableness personality, loneliness, avoidant attachment style and anxious attachment style with relational aggression in romantic relationships. Hierarchical regression analysis found a significant effect of social support as a moderator between loneliness with relational aggression in romantic relationships.ConclusionsThus, the results show that young female adults with low level of agreeableness, high level of loneliness, avoidant attachment style and anxious attachment style are at a higher risk of engaging in relational aggression in romantic relationships. The implication of this study can help in understanding the psychosocial factors that form the basis of relational aggression in romantic relationships. Hence, the gap in knowledge warrants further research.

Relational Aggression Targeting the Parent-Child Bond: A Pilot Study of Parent-Child Bond-Breaking Behavior

ABSTRACT Relational aggression involves targeting and weaponizing relationships. Similarly, what is currently called parental alienation (PA) behavior, concerns targeting and weaponizing the parent–child relationship in the context of separation and divorce by one parent in order to disrupt the bond between the child and their other parent. In this study we report results from 46 separated and divorced parents evaluating a new parent-child bond-breaking measure and examining associations among parents’ attachment, romantic relational aggression, and bond-breaking. Recognition of parent-child bond-breaking as relational aggression links it to a robust scientific literature base, enhances measurement, and opens new lines of scientific inquiry.

Psychosocial Factors and Dating Violence: A Review of the Literature

Dating violence is a major source of concern among the general population. Previous literature reviews have studied many other risk factors and dyadic implications of dating violence, but there has been very little research done in diverse elements of psychosocial factors linked to dating violence. The articles related to the term’s psychosocial factors (personality traits, attachment style and loneliness) and we looked for phrases linked to dating violence (aggression in romantic partnerships, violence in intimate relationships). The studies for this literature review must be from original studies with any gender sampling and should be written in English. This review included 27 papers that met the criteria for inclusion. The findings of this literature analysis revealed inconsistent results regarding the association between psychosocial factors and violent behaviour in romantic relationships, with some studies unable to detect such links. These findings are explored in terms of current gaps in the literature as well as suggested future research areas. The implication of this study can help in understanding the psychosocial factors that form the basis of relational aggression in romantic relationships and as a proactive step to avoid from being a victim of relational aggression.

Does Your Childhood Attachment Make You Bully Your Lover? The Role of Rejection Sensitivity and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction

Evidence has shown that insecure childhood attachment and aggression in romantic relationships in emerging adulthood are related. This study examined the psychological processes underlying this association. Based on the attachment theory and the rejection sensitivity model, this study investigated rejection sensitivity as a mediator and romantic relationship satisfaction as a moderator in the association between insecure childhood attachment to parents and relational aggression toward partners. A total of 336 college students, currently in heterosexual romantic relationships, completed self-report questionnaires. The results of the moderated mediation analysis showed that the mediating effect of rejection sensitivity on the association between insecure childhood attachment and romantic relational aggression weakened as college students were more satisfied in their romantic relationships. This finding suggests that romantic relationship satisfaction offers emerging adults protection against difficulties associated with rejection sensitivity in the link between insecure childhood attachment and romantic relational aggression.

Hostile emotions and close relationships: Anger can be related to constructive responses

Anger is typically thought to be an emotion that is associated with negative outcomes, such as aggression; however, evidence shows that anger can be related to positive outcomes as well, such as making amends and reparations. Two studies examined the role of anger, contempt, and disgust on behavioural tendencies (i.e., reparative action, avoidance versus aggression) in two contexts: romantic relationships (Study 1) and friendships (Study 2). We also tested whether various individual differences may impact these relationships. It was found that anger was associated with reparative action in both contexts and disgust was related to less reparative action in friendships. All three emotions were positively connected to aggression in romantic relationships (Study 1), but only disgust was related to aggression in friendships (Study 2). Disgust was positively related to avoidance in both studies. The results suggest that anger is an approach emotion, being consistently associated with the positive outcome of reparative action, and disgust is more consistently related to behavioural tendencies in close relationships than contempt. Future research should endeavour to examine when and how the positive behavioural effects of anger can be fostered in close relationships.

Investigation of the Prediction Status of Love Styles and Gender on Attitudes towards Dating Violence

Attitudes that support dating violence are also related to the severity and frequency of aggression in romantic relationships. It is therefore important to understand the variables that influence this attitude. The aim of this study was to reveal the mediation status of love styles in attitudes towards dating violence in gender in emerging adults aged 18-25. The study was conducted on 268 emerging adults (54% female, 46% male) aged 18-25 years (͞X͞=20.34). In the research, the “Dating Violence Attitude Scale” and “Love Attitudes Scale-Short Form” were used to measure attitudes towards dating violence and attitudes towards love, respectively. As a result of the mediation analysis, it was determined that the Ludus and Pragma love styles partially mediated the relationship between gender and attitudes towards general violence and physical violence in romantic relationships. The Ludus, Mania, and Pragma love styles were related to the relationship between gender and attitudes towards emotional violence in romantic relationships;. It was determined that the Eros, Pragma and Agape love styles partially mediated the relationship between gender and attitudes towards economic violence in romantic relationships. It was determined that only the Ludus love style mediated the relationship between gender and attitudes towards sexual violence in romantic relationships, while the Ludus, Mania and Pragma love styles partially mediated the relationship between gender and the mean attitudes towards violence in romantic relationships. Looking at the results of the mediation analysis, it was determined that the Ludus, Pragma, and Mania love styles partially mediated the relationship between gender and attitudes towards violence in romantic relationships. It can be said that men with the Ludus love style have a more accepting attitudes towards general, physical, emotional and sexual violence in romantic relationships compared to their female peers with this love style. It can be said that women with the Pragma love style have a more accepting attitudes towards general, physical, emotional and economic violence in romantic relationships compared to their female peers with this love style. It can be said that women with the Mania love style have a more accepting attitudes towards emotional violence in romantic relationships.

Physical, Verbal, and Relational Aggression: The Role of Anger Management Strategies

ABSTRACT Identifying adaptive and maladaptive anger management strategies is an important component in violence prevention programs. However, little attention has been paid to examining their influence in minimizing physical, verbal, and romantic relational aggression. This study examined the association between anger, anger management strategies, and different forms of aggression, specifically general physical and verbal aggression toward others and romantic relational aggression. Participants (N = 237; 39.4% males), aged between 19 and 78 years (M = 33.74, SD = 12.92), were assessed using self-reports. Results indicated that elevated levels of anger were a risk factor for displaying physical, verbal, and romantic relational aggression but anger management strategies only had an impact on romantic relational aggression, not physical or verbal aggression. Prevention and intervention programs should first identify the form of aggression displayed and tailor the intervention based on the anger management strategies that are effective. For romantic relational aggression-specific anger management strategies (escalating and negative attribution) should be targeted.

Relational aggression in romantic relationships: A study into gender differences, correlates and predictors

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Unraveling the effect of mindfulness on romantic relational aggression: A multiple mediation model

The current study was aimed to examine the underlying mechanisms of how mindfulness impacts romantic relational aggression, from the perspective of relational self-construal and attachment theory. Data was collected from 506 college students who were currently involved in a romantic relationship. Mediation analyses revealed a multiple mediation model: the independently mediating pathways of (a) relational self-construal and (b) adult attachment, and the chain mediating pathway of (c) relational self-construal and adult attachment. Furthermore, the implications of future intervention programs aimed at reducing romantic relational aggression are discussed.

Reinforcement sensitivity, approach and avoidance goals and relational aggression in romantic relationships

In the present studies we examined how individual differences in general approach and avoidance motivation, romantic victimization and approach and avoidance relationship goals predicted romantic relational aggression. Two studies (N = 331) including participants involved in romantic relationships provided evidence that general avoidance motivation (Fight-flight-freeze system) and romantic victimization positively predicted relationally aggressive behavior toward a romantic partner. Approach relationship goals were a negative predictor of romantic relational aggression. The results suggest that general avoidance motivation and romantic victimization are risk factors, while the approach relationship goals are a protective factor in the study of romantic relational aggression.

Examining risk and protective factors on progression of romantic relational aggression among young adults: Parental control, parental care, and peer social support

Romantic relational aggression is related to numerous mental health consequences but risk and protective factors of perpetrating this type of aggression, historically, have been unclear. This study fills in the research gap by evaluating the impact of parental control, parental care, and peer social support on later perpetration in romantic relational aggression among 84 predominately Chinese college students. Results revealed the positive association between parental control and perpetration in romantic relational aggression, however, this association diminished in the presence of high peer social support (HSS). Despite insignificance in the main effect, parental care was negatively correlated with later perpetration in romantic relationship in the HSS group while a positive association was found in the low peer social support (LSS) group. These highlights provided evidences how parental control and parental care during childhood could be risk factors for later romantic relational aggression as well as how current social support from peer could serve as a protective factor on the negative influence from parent–child relationships.

Romantic Relational Aggression and Victimization in Young Adults’ Romantic Relationships

Romantic Relational Aggression and Victimization in Young Adults’ Romantic Relationships

Perspective-Taking and Empathy Mitigate Family-of-Origin Risk for Electronic Aggression Perpetration Toward Dating Partners: A Brief Report.

Electronic dating aggression among emerging adults is prevalent and has adverse consequences, yet factors that increase or decrease the risk for perpetrating electronic aggression against a romantic partner are understudied. This investigation advances the literature in two novel ways. First, based on intergenerational transmission of violence theories, we tested the link between family-of-origin aggression (FOA) history and electronic aggression toward romantic partners, using a diverse sample of emerging adults. Second, we examined whether perspective-taking and empathy each moderated the association between FOA and electronic dating aggression and explored the moderating role of gender. Participants included 359 undergraduate students (50% female; 42% White) from an urban university. Results indicated that greater FOA during childhood was associated with perpetrating greater electronic aggression against romantic partners. Furthermore, significant interactions indicated that perspective-taking and empathy separately buffered these associations. Youth from aggressive families did not exhibit increased electronic dating perpetration when they had higher perspective-taking or empathy. Males were especially sensitive to the protective effects of perspective-taking. Findings highlight potential points of intervention (i.e., cognitive and affective empathy training) to decrease electronic aggression in romantic relationships and break intergenerational cycles of aggression.

Verbal Aggression in Romantic Relationships: The Influence of Family History, Destructive Beliefs About Conflict, and Conflict Goals

This article aimed to achieve two complimentary goals. First, this study examined verbal aggression in romantic relationships as a function of exposure to family verbal aggression in childhood and beliefs about the destructive nature of conflict. Second, this study considered the influence of conflict goals on the use of verbal aggression in romantic relationships. As predicted, history of family verbal aggression was negatively associated with destructive beliefs about conflict, and destructive beliefs about conflict partially mediated the association between history of family verbal aggression and verbal aggression in current romantic relationships. In addition, destructive beliefs about conflict were negatively associated with verbal aggression in current romantic relationships at high levels of importance of revenge-motivated goals; destructive beliefs about conflict were not significantly associated with verbal aggression in current romantic relationships at moderate or low levels of revenge-motivated goals.

Predicting aggression in late adolescent romantic relationships: A short-term longitudinal study

This study sought to prospectively predict aggression in the romantic relationships of 1180 college students from the United States (807 females; 373 males) over the course of two months with a set of intrapersonal risk and protective factors, including personality characteristics that rarely have been examined in this population. After accounting for prior dating aggression, perpetration of verbal aggression was predicted uniquely by aggressive attitudes, emotion regulation, and for females, narcissism. Perpetration of physical aggression was predicted by aggressive attitudes, but only at low levels of emotion regulation, and the interaction of callous-unemotional traits, emotion regulation, and gender: males with low levels of callous-unemotional traits perpetrated less physical aggression when they reported greater emotion regulation. These findings are among the first to show that personality traits and emotion regulation prospectively predict partner aggression in late adolescence and suggest mechanisms for continuity in interpersonal aggression from early adolescence to adulthood.

Pathways to romantic relational aggression through adolescent peer aggression and heavy episodic drinking.

Adolescent peer aggression is a well-established correlate of romantic relational aggression; however, the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. Heavy episodic drinking (or "binge" alcohol use) was examined as both a prior and concurrent mediator of this link in a sample of 282 12-18 year old interviewed four times over 6 years. Path analyses indicated that early peer relational and physical aggression each uniquely predicted later romantic relational aggression. Concurrent heavy episodic drinking fully mediated this effect for peer physical aggression only. These findings highlight two important mechanisms by which peer aggression may increase the risk of later romantic relational aggression: a direct pathway from peer relational aggression to romantic relational aggression and an indirect pathway through peer physical aggression and concurrent heavy episodic drinking. Prevention programs targeting romantic relational aggression in adolescence and young adulthood may benefit from interventions that target multiple domains of risky behavior, including the heavy concurrent use of alcohol. Aggr. Behav. 42:563-576, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gender and the Transmission of Risk: A Prospective Study of Adolescent Girls Exposed to Maternal Versus Paternal Interparental Violence

Violence perpetrated by young women typically occurs in close relationships. This study assessed the impact of exposure to interparental violence (IPV) on girls' perpetration of violence within romantic relationships and examined whether this relationship was mediated through sensitivity to interpersonal rejection (RS). Exposure to maternal IPV predicted girls' romantic partner aggression in adolescence and 5 years later in young adulthood. Additionally, girls high on RS were at increased risk of aggression in romantic relationships in adolescence and young adulthood. RS mediated the relationship between IPV and levels of romantic partner aggression in adolescence, but not into young adulthood. These effects remained stable even when paternal IPV and other forms of parental abuse were controlled.

Perceptions of Verbal Aggression in Romantic Relationships: The Role of Family History and Motivational Systems

This study examined the perceived acceptability of verbally aggressive behavior in adult romantic relationships as a function of both exposure to familial verbal aggression in childhood and the strength of peoples' motivational systems. Previous research suggests that a history of familial verbal aggression in childhood desensitizes an individual's psychological, behavioral, and physiological responses in adulthood to be more tolerant of their own and other's verbally aggressive behavior. In addition, the degree to which childhood exposure to familial verbal aggression leads to desensitization in the form of adult acceptance of aggression in romantic relationships may be influenced by characteristics of people's motivational systems. To examine this, 87 college-aged students completed measures assessing their history of familial verbal aggression, strength of their behavioral inhibition and activation systems, and their reported inclination to enact verbal aggression in a romantic relationship. History of familial verbal aggression was positively associated with the perceived acceptability of verbal aggression against a romantic partner, and this association was stronger for individuals with higher behavioral inhibition system scores.

Relationship of Personality Dimensions and Aggression in Romantic Relationship Among Youth

Background:Aggression in romantic relationships is a continuing factor for breakups, physical assault, kidnapping, rape and even murder. It is also associated with adjustment difficulties including peer rejection, depression and maladaptive personality features. The present study aims to explore the personality correlates of aggression in romantic relationship.Materials and Methods:The sample consisted of 110 male and female participants in the age range of 18-32 years. The Socio-demographic schedule, General Health Questionnaire Relationship Satisfaction Scale NEO Five Factor Inventory, The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale and Checklist for Psychological Aggression were administered.Results:Personality characteristics like openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively correlated with all forms of aggression. Men and women had significant differences with respect to aggression in romantic relationships. The relationship satisfaction has negative association with neuroticism.Conclusions:It has implications in understanding pattern of aggression in romantic relationships and thus may help in developing intervention programs for the same.

Relational Aggression in College Students' Dating Relationships

This study focused on romantic relational aggression, a variable that appears to predict intimate partner violence but remains understudied in the college population. College student participants (N = 260) between the ages of 18 and 25 who reported that they had been in a romantic relationship during the past year completed measures of romantic relational aggression, sex role attitudes, acceptance of couple violence, and trait anger. Although respondent gender and sex role attitudes predicted romantic relational aggression as expected, gender did not moderate the relationship between sex role attitudes and relational aggression. Acceptance of violence predicted the perpetration of romantic relational aggression above and beyond the effects of trait anger and sex role attitudes. Trait anger also predicted romantic relational aggression.