Does Context Matter in Determining Psychological Abuse? Effects of Pattern, Harm, Relationship, and Norms

• NCJ Number: 231021
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 5 Dated: July 2010 Pages: 461-474
• Author(s): Dana D. DeHart; Diane R. Follingstad; Alice M. Fields
• Date Published: July 2010
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored contextual influences in determining whether psychologically aggressive actions constitute abuse.

Abstract

One hundred and thirty-one undergraduates completed measures of key experiences, attitudes, and traits, and rated abusiveness of behaviors in a series of vignettes. Vignettes varied contexts in which behaviors occurred, including whether the behavior was a pattern, whether there was harm to the recipient, characteristics of the initiator-recipient relationship, and whether behavior was normative. Results showed no effects for participants' gender, past experiences with psychological aggression, and traits or attitudes. Findings indicated that behaviors were rated as more abusive when harm to the recipient was evident. Findings regarding patterns of behavior, relationship, and normative contexts were less consistent. Implications for measurement of psychological abuse are discussed. Appendixes and references (Published Abstract)