Testing A Social-Cognitive Model of Intimate Abusiveness Among Substance Dependent Males
Throughout history, the human race has been characterized by the use of physical and emotional aggression by individuals, particularly males, in their intimate relationships. Intimate abusiveness is particularly common among substance dependent males. As a result of male intimate abusive...
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| Format: | Others |
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Virginia Tech
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30524 http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-42298-144412/ |
| Summary: | Throughout history, the human race has been characterized
by the use of physical and emotional aggression by
individuals, particularly males, in their intimate
relationships. Intimate abusiveness is particularly common
among substance dependent males. As a result of male
intimate abusiveness, victims suffer a variety of problems
ranging from emotional trauma to death due to physical
injury. Despite increased attention to this problem, our
understanding of the process leading to intimate
abusiveness is far from comprehensive. The primary purpose
of the present study was to expand our understanding of
intimate abusiveness through the application of a
social-cognitive model of intimate abusiveness among
substance dependent males.
Fifty-seven males from an inpatient substance abuse
treatment program participated. Subjects completed
questionnaires indicating their level of intimate
abusiveness. In addition, they completed partner-related
attribution measures as well as coping response measures
indicating how they would interpret and handle five
ambiguous vignettes involving their partner.
It was hypothesized that violent men would attribute
greater negative intent and responsibility to their
partner and that they would choose to handle the ambiguous
vignettes in less competent ways compared with non-violent
men. Further, it was predicted that the association
between intimate abusiveness and competency of coping
responses would be mediated by attributions made about the
partner. Results of the study generally supported
predictions. The implications of the results are
discussed as well as suggestions for future research. === Ph. D. |
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