Verbal Aggression as a Predictor of Physical Aggression in Early Marriage

• NCJ Number: 112336
• Author(s): C M Murphy; K D O'Leary
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Paper presented at the National Conference for Family Violence Researchers, Durham, New Hampshire, July 1987.

Annotation

A total of 216 males and 189 females who reported no physical aggression against their partners during the year prior to their marriage were studied over the first 18 months of marriage to determine whether verbal aggression was a precursor of physical aggression in marriage.

Abstract

The questionnaires administered to the subjects were the Conflict Tactics Scale (18 self-report questions about the frequency of various responses to interpartner conflict), Spouse Specific Aggression Scale (a 12-item measure of verbally aggressive and passive aggressive behavior in marriage), and the Short Marital Adjustment Test (a self-report measure of global relationship satisfaction). Elevated verbal aggression characterized spouses who later reported physical aggression, but dissatisfaction with the marriage was not a precursor of physical aggression. Mechanisms involving arousal reduction and escape conditoning may lead to escalating aggression over time. 1 table and 24 references. (Author abstract modified)