NCJ Number
209571
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 570-586
Date Published
May 2002
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This empirical study shows how specific emotional components in a partners' interaction protect against violence in the relationship.
Abstract
Study participants consisted of 283 upper-level college undergraduates who were attending 1 of 2 State universities. These students identified themselves as being in a current, heterosexual relationship. Using a multiple-choice format, participants were asked a number of questions about their current relationship, such as the duration of the relationship, the number of times they had physically fought with their partner over the last year, the severity of injury from their most recent physical fight with their partner, and the number of times they had fought with any person. Intimacy between partners was measured with the Interpersonal Record Form-Intimacy, which measures various characteristics of a relationship that facilitate intimacy. The study found that couple interactions that were characterized by a generally positive affective tone and listening and understanding were features of a nonviolent relationship; whereas, couples that lacked these features in their interaction were at greater risk for violence. The study did not indicate that self-disclosure is protective against violence in intimate relationships, perhaps because the overall emotional state of the relationship and the quality of a given self-disclosure determine how it will affect the relationship. 2 tables and 49 references