Escalation of Conflict: Differences in Perception of Male and Female Initiated Abuse

• In Event: Investigating the Darkside: Aggression and Conflict in Relationships

Abstract

This study investigated differences in perceptions of male and female-initiated abuse. Participants viewed two videos of a married couple’s argument in which the conflict tactics increased in intensity over four scenes with physical aggression being displayed in the final scene. Judgments were made concerning the probability and advisability of various conflict tactics occurring in ensuing scenes. Sex differences were revealed in the ratings. Results are discussed in terms of conflict linkage and excitation-transfer theory.

Authors

• James Honeycutt, Louisiana State University

• Pavica Sheldon, Louisiana State University

• Melissa Hardaway, Louisiana State University