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McCurry AG, May RC, Donaldson DI. Both partners' negative emotion drives aggression during couples' conflict. COMMUNICATIONS PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 2:73. [PMID: 39242859 PMCID: PMC11331989 DOI: 10.1038/s44271-024-00122-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Researchers examining conflict between intimate partners believe that the experience and expression of emotion drives aggressive behaviour. Intra-personally, increases in negative affect make aggression more likely. Inter-personally, theoretical models suggest that each individuals' perception of their partners' emotion also influences aggression, potentially creating a Violence Escalation Cycle. Here, using a lab-based aggression task across a primary study (n = 104, number of trials = 3095) and a replication (n = 58, number of trials = 3167), we show that both intra- and inter-personal experiences of negative emotion predict reactive aggression within couples, revealing retaliation but not escalation. Critically, analyses of facial affect reveal that prototypic displays of negative emotions have a compounding effect, leading to dramatic changes in aggression depending on whether one, both, or neither partner expressed negative emotion. We propose a mechanism by which temporal delays (i.e., experimentally imposed forced breaks) reduce aggression by decreasing negative emotional arousal and limiting impulsive action. Our results show that both forced breaks and elective breaks (i.e., extra participant-initiated extensions of the forced break time) reduce aggression, providing exciting evidence that interventions focused on preventing impulsive action when people are in a provoked state can reduce aggression within couples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annah G McCurry
- The University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, St Andrews, Scotland, UK.
| | - Robert C May
- The University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, St Andrews, Scotland, UK
| | - David I Donaldson
- The University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, St Andrews, Scotland, UK
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Douadi M, Brassard A, Godbout N, Savard C, Daspe MÈ, Lafontaine MF, Péloquin K. Romantic Attachment and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrated by Men: The Role of Affect Dysregulation and Gender Hostility. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2024; 39:2437-2459. [PMID: 38146765 PMCID: PMC11071599 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231218226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem, associated with considerable consequences for the victims. Among the risk factors associated with the perpetration of male IPV, attachment insecurities (avoidance, anxiety) and affect dysregulation (AD) have received strong empirical support. A few studies showed that hostility toward women (HTW) is a correlate of IPV perpetration, but none have explored hostility toward men (HTM). This study's aim was to test direct and indirect associations between romantic attachment insecurities and IPV perpetration (psychological, physical, and sexual coercion) through AD in men seeking help, and to examine the moderator role of HTW and HTM in theses links. A sample of 1,845 men aged between 18 and 88 years and from a diverse population (e.g., cultural background, education, and sexual orientation) were recruited through 18 community organizations providing IPV services in a Canadian province. As part of the systematic assessment protocol of each organization, participants answered a series of online questionnaires. Results from a path analysis model showed indirect associations between attachment insecurities (avoidance and anxiety) and IPV perpetration (psychological, physical, and sexual coercion) through AD. Beyond these links, attachment avoidance was also directly associated with psychological violence, attachment anxiety with sexual coercion, and HTM with sexual coercion. The results revealed two moderation effects: higher HTW amplified the link between AD and physical IPV, whereas higher HTM amplified the link between AD and sexual coercion. Results highlight the relevance of assessing attachment, AD, and gender hostility in IPV programs. They also highlight the relevance of targeting HTM as a risk marker for IPV perpetration in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Douadi
- Department of Psychology, Université de Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- The Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Audrey Brassard
- Department of Psychology, Université de Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- The Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Natacha Godbout
- The Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Sexology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Claudia Savard
- The Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Fundamentals and Basics in Education, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Daspe
- The Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Katherine Péloquin
- The Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
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Zvolensky MJ, Clausen BK, Shepherd JM, Redmond BY, Robison JH, Santiago-Torres M, Bricker JB. Emotional dysregulation among English-speaking Hispanic persons who smoke living in the United states. Addict Behav 2024; 152:107959. [PMID: 38309241 PMCID: PMC11195297 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.107959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Hispanic/Latinx (hereafter Hispanic) individuals in the United States (US) experience serious tobacco-related disparities and factors contributing to such disparities need to be adequately identified and clinically addressed. Emotion dysregulation is a key transdiagnostic relevant to smoking. The present cross-sectional investigation sought to test if emotion dysregulation was related to more severe problems during smoking quit attempts (e.g., irritability, weight gain), perceptions of difficulty about quitting, as well as negative and positive beliefs about smoking abstinence in a sample of English-speaking Hispanic adults residing in the US who smoke. Participants included 332 Hispanic adults who engaged in daily cigarette smoking (35.46 years old, 37 % identified as female). Emotion dysregulation was significantly related to more severe problems when quitting and perceived barriers for quitting, as well as negative beliefs about smoking abstinence. Additionally, emotion dysregulation was significantly and negatively related to positive outcomes about smoking abstinence. The amount of change in the various smoking criterion variables accounted for by emotion dysregulation was small (sr2 range: 0.028-0.085), but evident in adjusted models that accounted for a wide range of factors (e.g., depression, drug use severity). Overall, this investigation found consistent empirical evidence that individual differences in emotion dysregulation in Hispanic individuals were associated with several clinically significant smoking processes, suggesting this construct may represent an important factor involved in the maintenance and relapse of smoking among this ethnic population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Zvolensky
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston; Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; HEALTH Institute, University of Houston.
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jonathan B Bricker
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Division of Public Health Sciences; Department of Psychology, University of Washington
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Pollard DL, Babcock JC, Cantos AL. Physical Intimate Partner Violence Concordance Rates in Couples: Does CTS2 Item Order Matter? JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:7867-7888. [PMID: 36519715 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221141864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) concordance rates between partners are low across national, community, and clinical samples. Discordance between partners' IPV reports is problematic given that self-report questionnaires, such as the CTS2, are commonly used to assess IPV. Moreover, most research is based solely on the report of one partner. Some have attributed this discordance to how CTS2 items are presented. The CTS2 presents items inquiring on the frequencies of perpetration by oneself and then one's partner in pairs. The present study examined whether IPV concordance rates improve if couples are administered a version of the CTS2 where all items assessing their partner's behaviors are presented first, followed by items assessing the respondents' behaviors. Additionally, the present study examined whether correlations between self-reported and partner-reported perpetration and victimization differ depending on the order in which CTS2 items are presented. Two samples of heterosexual couples were recruited from a large metropolitan area in the United States. The first sample was administered the CTS2 in its usual format. The second sample was administered a version of the CTS2 that presented items on one's partners' behavior first, followed by self-reported behavior. Results revealed that concordance rates among violent couples were higher in the group administered the CTS2 in its altered format, particularly agreement on male IPV perpetration. However, when agreement on minor and severe IPV was examined separately, concordance rates between groups were relatively similar for severe IPV. These findings suggest that altering the item presentation of the CTS2 may improve the interrater reliability of the Physical Assault Scale of the CTS2. Additional results are discussed.
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Trombetta T, Balocco V, Santoniccolo F, Paradiso MN, Rollè L. Internalized Homonegativity, Emotion Dysregulation, and Isolating Behaviors Perpetration among Gay and Lesbian Couples. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1593. [PMID: 36674347 PMCID: PMC9863614 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Same-sex intimate partner violence (SSIPV) is a serious health concern and may manifest in various forms. Nevertheless, controlling behaviors of isolation are still poorly investigated. Due to their marginalized status, sexual minorities can face SSIPV-specific risk factors, such as internalized homonegativity, as well as general psychological stress factors, such as emotion dysregulation. While the literature is growing, there is still a lack of understanding of the complex pathways linking sexual minorities and minority stress to IPV and isolating controlling behavior. To fill this gap, we explored the relation between internalized homonegativity and controlling behaviors of isolation, assessing the mediating role of emotion dysregulation. In total, 120 gay and lesbian people (mean age = 33.8, SD = 11.5) involved in a same-sex relationship participated in the study. Results showed a direct and positive association between internalized homonegativity and difficulties in emotion regulation and a direct and positive association between emotion dysregulation and controlling behaviors of isolation; the mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the relation between internalized homonegativity and isolating controlling behaviors was supported as well. Emerging results can provide valuable information at the clinical level, although further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
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Segundo J, Cantos AL, Ontiveros G, O’Leary KD. Risk Factors of Female-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence among Hispanic Young Adults: Attachment Style, Emotional Dysregulation, and Negative Childhood Experiences. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192113850. [PMID: 36360730 PMCID: PMC9658780 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper examined whether risk factors commonly associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) are associated with female-perpetrated physical IPV and female physical IPV victimization among young Hispanic women. It also examined how emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and attachment style exacerbated these relationships. Furthermore, it investigates how these associations differ by the type of self-reported physical violence against their romantic partner. Based on the participants' self-reported physical violence, they were classified into one of four groups: nonviolent, victim-only, perpetrator-only, and bidirectionally violent. Bidirectional violence was by far the most common form of violence reported. Utilizing self-report data from 360 young Hispanic women, we used binary logistic regression to examine potential predictors of physical IPV perpetration and victimization for each group. Results demonstrated that women in the bidirectionally violent group reported the highest levels of perpetration and victimization. Parental violence victimization, witnessing interparental violence, insecure attachment styles, and emotional dysregulation predicted physical IPV perpetration and victimization. These findings emphasize the need for effective interventions that include both members of the dyad and acknowledge the impact of women's attachment style, emotion dysregulation, and adverse childhood experiences on female-perpetrated IPV and female IPV victimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joahana Segundo
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Arthur L. Cantos
- Department of Psychological Science, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
| | - Gabriela Ontiveros
- Department of Psychological Science, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
| | - K. Daniel O’Leary
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Alexithymia and Insecure Attachment among Male Intimate Partner Violence Aggressors in the Dominican Republic. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9121626. [PMID: 34946351 PMCID: PMC8700775 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9121626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The complexity of intimate partner violence and the impossibility of understanding it from single factors have been studied from different biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 187 men involved in legal proceedings for problems of violence in their intimate partner relationships in the Dominican Republic in order to explore whether insecure attachment represents a risk factor for alexithymia in men with violent behaviors. The attachment style was determinate by the Casullo and Fernández-Liporace Attachment Styles Scale, and alexithymia was assayed using the Latin American Consensual Toronto Alexithymia Scale (LAC TAS-20), a modification of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Chi-square test and multiple binary logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the phenomena of alexithymia and attachment styles in the context of a confinement center for male intimate partner offenders in the Dominican Republic. The results showed that insecure attachment represents a risk factor for alexithymia, being highest for avoidant attachment in the population studied. The results also highlight the influence of other factors such as education and maternal–familial relationships as a factor risk for alexithymia.
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