|
Abstract
|
AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this study was to investigate behavioral differences among unhappily married and violent husbands with attachment classifications on the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George, Kaplan & Main, 1985). The AAI yields three major categories: Secure, Dismissing and Preoccupied, which are thought to be related to behavior in close relationships and emotional regulation style. Twenty-three Domestically Violent (DV) husbands and 13 maritally Distressed but non-violent (DNV) were interviewed using the AAI. Husbands' affect and physiological reactivity measured were obtained during in-lab arguments with their wives. In addition, DV wives' reports of violent incidents were coded to examine what precipitates the husbands' violence. Violent husbands (74%) were more likely to classified into one of the insecure categories than the distressed/nonviolent husbands (38%) on the AAI. The results show several meaningful behavioral differences between Dismissing, Preoccupied, and Secure husbands. As predicted, during laboratory arguments with their wives, Dismissing husbands were the most stonewalling and domineering; and they tended to be more contemptuous than Secure and Preoccupied husbands. Secure husbands were significantly more defensive (a low-level negativity code) than the two insecure types. Preoccupied husbands were more emotionally abusive than any other type. Thus, the two Insecure types of husbands were more hostile towards their wives than Secure husbands. There were no differences between AAI subtypes on psychophysiology during marital arguments, however. Sequential analyses of violent arguments at home revealed different patterns between different types of batterers. For the Preoccupied batterers only, wife withdrawal was a significant predictor of husband violence. For the Dismissing batterer only, wife defensiveness was a significant precursor to husband violence. It is hypothesized that the Preoccupied batterer's violence and emotional abuse is related to 'expressive' violence in response to abandonment fears; whereas the Dismissing batterer uses 'instrumental' violence to control his wife and assert his authority. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, 1997. Copyright © 1997 by Julia Caroline Babcock; University Microfilms International)
Adult Male
Adult Offender
Adult Violence
Domestic Violence Offender
Spouse Abuse Offender
Male Offender
Male Violence
Offender Characteristics
Attachment
Domestic Violence Causes
Spouse Abuse Causes
Violence Against Women
Partner Violence
01-04 |