Behavioral Responses to Psychological Victimization in Intimate Partner Relationships: Are Responses Gendered?

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

We know from the literature that a distinct sex disparity exists in the perpetration of other-directed violence (ODV). Some scholars suggest that this disparity is explained in part by gendered reactions to stress, strain or violence victimization, in which males and females engage in different coping mechanisms, with males more likely to engage in ODV than females. Relying on a general strain framework, we investigate the behavioral responses of college-aged male and female victims of psychological intimate partner abuse. We find that while there is a sex disparity in the use of ODV as a coping mechanism, there is also a distinct gender orientation disparity. Our results indicate that victims who ascribe to a masculine identity are more likely than those of a feminine identity to engage in ODV, regardless of biological sex. These findings shed light on the impact of gender orientation as both a risk and protective factor in the use of ODV.

Authors

• Racheal Pesta, University of Akron

• Robert Peralta, University of Akron

• Meghan Novisky, Cleveland State University