NCJ Number
72918
Date Published
1980
Length
21 pages
Annotation
An attempt to explain the relationship between power and violence, based on a study of approximately 400 couples, focuses on the 'ultimate resource theory,' which holds that if husbands lack the resources to validate their family position, they may resort to violence as the 'ultimate resource' to back up feelings of power entitlement.
Abstract
The data were derived from a study of families of university students and were obtained by questionnaires completed by the students, focused on the level of violence in their families. The technique used to measure physical violence was the violence scale of the family Conflict Tactics Scales instrument, and the measure of conjugal power was the Decision Power Index of Blood and Wolfe (1960). For each spouse, an Absolute Resource Index and a Relative Resource Index were constructed. Results indicated that the greater the husband's resources, the less he used physical violence. The extent to which a husband's resources exceeded those of his wife had little or no relation to violence by either spouse. However, the more the wife's resources exceeded those of her husband, the more likely her husband would be to use physical force against her. In all of the analyses reported, these correlations were stronger in working class families and sometimes only present in working class families. Thus, data support the ultimate resource theory but only for working class couples. Several illustrations, a table, and 11 notes are supplied. (Author abstract modified)