The Role of Gender in Self-Control and Intimate Partner Violence

• In Event: Predictors and Moderators of Self-control on Crime

Abstract

This study focuses on the interrelationships among gender, self-control and intimate partner violence (IPV). The sample consists of 960 undergraduate and graduate university students who are currently in a dating relationship. A series of bivariate and multivariate analyses are used to: 1) determine if self-control and IPV vary across gender and 2) assess the effect of gender on the relationship between self-control and IPV. Overall, results provide partial support for Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (1990) general theory of crime. Self-control operated similarly on IPV for both males and females, supporting the gender-neutrality of their theory. However, the gender gap in crime as it relates to self-control remains in question as females were more likely than males to commit more types of IPV. The implications of these findings, limitations of the current study, and directions for future research are discussed.

Authors

• Laura M Gulledge, University of Southern Mississippi

• Christine Sellers, Texas State University

• John Cochran, University of South Florida