Physical Aggression Victimization Research Articles

Validity of self-reports of marital violence

The most commonly used and practiced method for assessing spouse abuse is the individual's self-report of engaging in or being a victim of physical aggression. However, the socially undesirable nature of relationship violence raises questions regarding the likelihood that it is accurately reported. The current investigation found that a socially desirable response set is related to willingness to report one's own aggression. However, it is not related to willingness to report a spouse's aggressive behavior. Social desirability was not related to reports of frequency or severity of one's own aggression for individuals admitting the use of any form of aggressive behavior.

Prevalence and Correlates of Physical Aggression During Courtship

A total of 95 males and 175 females provided information about whether they had engaged in or been victims of physical aggression in past and/or current dating relationships. Some 30% of the men and 32% of the women reported engaging in some form of physical aggression against a current steady dating partner. Additionally, 49% of the men and 26% of the women reported being the victims of their current dating partner's physical aggression. Length of the dating relationship was associated with men's physical aggression and their victimization was associated with decreased liking for their partners. Women's experiences with physical aggression in a dating relationship as both victims and aggressors were related to the length of the relationship, less liking for the partner, and less positive affect for the partner.