Selection Processes, Status Compatibilities, and Intimate Partner Violence

• In Event: Intimate Partner Violence in Dating Relationships and Young Adulthood

Abstract

Various theories attempt to explain the impact of partner status compatibilities in the form of relative educational and income attainment on intimate partner violence (IPV). Broadly, one perspective which includes exchange, resource, and backlash theories, predicts ascendant female status will increase IPV because it is threatening to the male partner (i.e., gender threat). An alternative approach (feminist and ameliorative theories) hypothesizes traditional, male ascendant status relationships will have more violence. Largely absent from both theoretical perspectives is the issue of selection processes relating to relationship formation and dissolution. We hypothesize that individual-level selection processes will affect (1) the types of status compatibilities formed and (2) that status compatibilities will affect relationship dissolution generally and as a result of IPV. Furthermore, we propose that relationship selection processes may help explain the mixed past empirical findings regarding the effects of status compatibilities on IPV. To assess these ideas, we analyze four waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to examine relationship processes for individuals in cohabiting and married relationships.

Authors

• Jennifer M. Brown, Florida State University

• Sonja Siennick, Florida State University

• Ted Chiricos, Florida State University