Narrative Approach to Understanding Young Women's Schemas of Power in Romantic Relationships: Links to Negative Emotions and Dating Aggression

• NCJ Number: 231844
• Journal: Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Volume: 19 Issue: 5 Dated: July/August 2010 Pages: 540-564
• Author(s): Candice Feiring; Dasal Jashar; Bethany Heleniak
• Date Published: July 2010
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special Issue: Part 1 see NCJ-231840-43 and NCJ-231845.

Annotation

This study investigated late adolescent women's views of power as it relates to romantic relationships, and whether these views were related to relationship functioning.

Abstract

This study examined the nature of newly developed narrative measures of late adolescent women's schemas of power and explored how these schemas were related to reports of relationship functioning during conflict. Thirty-six college women currently in romantic relationships were interviewed about how well they and their partners did and did not meet each others' needs and completed ratings of relationship emotions, power, and aggression. Narratives obtained from the interview were coded for major needs met, and denigration and reflection when needs were not met. Results indicated that denigration and reflection were related to power ratings of partner compliance and decisionmaking, flat emotions in reaction to needs not met, and the degree to which the couple engaged in relationship aggression. More positive schemas of influence (reflection and no denigration) were related to positive relationship functioning. Tables, references, and appendix (Published Abstract)