Browsing by Subject "Violence -- Psychological aspects"
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Item Factor analysis of the partner and stranger versions of the Conflict Tactics Scale(Texas Tech University, 2000-08) Ballinger, Buddy CThe Conflict Tactics Scale (GTS; Straus, 1979) is the most widely used instrument for measuring violence between romantic partners (Schafer, 1996). Responses to the CTS in studies of partner and parent-child violence have previously been factor analyzed with differing results. This study is the first to examine the factor structure of the stranger version of the CTS. CTS data were collected from 3,391 undergraduate introductory psychology students (1,116 men and 2,275 women). The responses of 1,770 of the participants (586 men and 1,184 women) to the to partner (self reported behavior toward partner), by partner (reports of partner's behaviors), to stranger (self reported behavior toward strangers), and by stranger (reports of stranger's behaviors) versions of the CTS were factor analyzed. In all but one of the exploratory factor analyses of the men's and women's data, 4 factors emerged (Physical Aggression, Severe Physical Aggression, Verbal- Psychological Aggression, and Reasoning), although there were minor differences between them in some of the specific items which loaded onto these factors. In the men's by stranger responses, 3 factors emerged: Reasoning-Conflict Avoidance, Verbal Aggression-Threats-Mild Violence, and Serious Physical Violence. The GTS responses of 1,621 of the participants (530 men and 1,091 women) were included in a series of confirmatory factor analyses, the results of which indicated that the factor structures obtained with the exploratory factor analyses were good matches for the data, with the exception of the men by stranger version which was an adequate fit. A subsample of the respondents (n = 1,291; 419 men and 872 women) also completed the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test. Chi-square analyses suggested that alcohol abuse related differently to partner and stranger violence. Male alcohol abusers were more likely to engage in stranger violence perpetration, but not partner violence perpetration. Male alcohol abusers were also more likely to be the victims of stranger violence. The only significant relationship between alcohol and violence for women was that women alcohol abusers were more likely to perpetrate verbal aggression and violence toward partners. These results provided evidence of different underlying psychological dynamics for partner and stranger violence. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research and adaptations of the CTS are presented.Item Measuring interpersonal violation(Texas Tech University, 1998-08) Newsom, Walter ScottThis document describes the initial development of The Interpersonal Violation Questionnaire (TVQ). The IVQ is a self-report instrument designed to measure perpetration of and victimization by potentially harmful physical, sexual, verbal and nonverbal behaviors within close romantic relationships. Previously published instruments measuring various aspects of interpersonal violation and current standards for constructing and validating a measurement instrument were reviewed. The conceptualization of the IVQ included a definition of interpersonal violation that included discussion of important theoretical issues such as intentions, outcomes, harm, consent, type of act, norms and context, and an appropriate measurement model was specified. Content analysis by a panel of 10 experts returned 159 item pairs consistent with the definition of interpersonal violation. The IVQ was administered to 599 student participants from a large southwestern public university. Item Analysis retained 74 item pairs with sufficient endorsement rates and item-total correlations. Scales reflecting physical violation (PV), sexual violation (SV), verbal violation (W), non-verbal violation (NV) and total-violation (TV) for use with college student populations were constructed from these items. These college student interpersonal violation scales generally had adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability given the measurement model specified. Prevalence rates indicate that 85.81% of the student sample have experienced some type of IPV as victim and/or perpetrator. The IVQ was also administered to a small (N=17) sample of women's shelter residents and a small group (n=24) of anger management seminar attendees. However, the small size of these samples limits the usefullness of these data. To assess the convergent and discriminant validity of the IVQ, it was administered along with the Partner Abuse Scale: Physical, the Partner Abuse Scale: Non-physical (Attala et al., 1994), the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss & Oros, 1982), the Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992), the Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, 1984), and the Mariowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Crowne & Marlowe, 1964). It is possible that the less than desirable convergent validity results were due to a combination of population and measurement issues. However, the process of vaUdating a measurement instrument is an iterative, ongoing process and future studies with more appropriate clinical populations may provide more satisfactory results.Item Psychodynamics of violence(Texas Tech University, 1997-12) Dromgoole, Kristy L.To explore the dynamics of partner and stranger violence, 66 college student men who had been in a relationship with a partner during the past year were placed into one of four groups based on their conflict resolution tactics in the past year (Straus, 1980, Conflict Tactics Scale): nonviolent (n=17), partner violent (n=15), stranger violent (n=17), or panviolent (violent with partners and strangers; n=17). Violent men minimally "kicked, bit, or hit with a fist" another person. The men responded to 10 cards of the Thematic Apperception Test, scored for castration anxiety (Schwartz, 1955), and object relations (Westen, Barends, Leigh, Mendel, & Silbert, 1990; included to replicate an earlier study) and completed the MMPI-2 (for levels of alcohol-related problems, number of elevations on the clinical scales, and anxiety content scale). Alcohol-related problems assessed by the MMPI-2, MAC-R and the proportion of elevations on the clinical scales on the MMPI-2 were included based on previous literature and to help differentiate between the meaning of castration anxiety and general anxiety or psychopathology. Differences associated with the dimensions of partner or stranger violence were assessed with MANOVA tests, with ANOVA tests, chi square and subsequent follow-up tests as warranted. Partner violent men had significantly higher levels of castration anxiety than others. Castration anxiety has to do with concerns about bodily damage, particularly aroused in an intimate relationship theoretically due to anxiety of bodily differences between men and women. Stranger violent men, including the panviolent men, reported significantly more alcohol-related problems (MMPI-2, MAC-R) than nonviolent and partner-only violent men. Object relation scores (four dimensions of mental representations of people and relationships between people) differed as a function of partner violence, with partner violent men reporting more benevolent views of relationships than nonviolent and stranger violent men. Indications of psychopathology and general anxiety (MMPI-2, proportion of elevations on the clinical scales and anxiety content scale) did not differ between groups.Item The use of defense mechanisms in partner violent college men(Texas Tech University, 2002-08) Carter, Stacy R.Physical violence between men and women in intimate relationships is a significant problem in our society (Straus & Gelles, 1986; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). An explanation for partner violence is not agreed upon in the literature. While some literature suggests that partner violent men use more primitive defense mechanisms than other men (e.g.. Elbow, 1977; Dutton, 1998), a direct comparison of defense mechanisms of men who are violent to their partners and other men has not yet been made. Alcohol use problems have been found to be associated with partner violence in some studies (Schumacher, Feldbau-Kohn, Slep, & Heyman, 2000), but other studies report an inconsistent relationship between alcohol use and partner violence (Kantor & Straus, 1987; Cunradi, Caetano, Clark, & Schafer, 1999). Similarly, studies have found that men who are violent toward their partners and are in treatment for spouse abuse have antisocial features (e.g., Beasley & Stoltenberg, 1992), but studies of men in community samples have found no personality differences between men who are violent toward their partners and other men. The present study investigated whether violent college men (those who have hit, kicked, punched, or otherwise hurt their partner at some point in the past year) differ from nonviolent college men on the level of defenses they use, alcohol use, or antisocial features. Characteristics of 30 partner violent college men were compared to the characteristics of 30 nonviolent college men. Defense mechanisms were identified based on responses to 6 Thematic Apperception Test (Murray, 1943) cards, scored using the Defense Mechanisms Manual (Cramer, 1991a) as well as responses on the Defense Style Questionnaire-40 (Andrews, Singh, & Bond; 1993). Alcohol related problems and antisocial features were assessed based on responses to three scales (MacAndrew Alcoholism scale-revised, Antisocial Practices, and Psychopathic Deviancy) of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989). When compared to nonviolent college men, it was expected that partner violent college men would use primitive defense mechanisms (i.e., denial, projection) rather than mature defense mechanisms (i.e., identification), have more alcohol related problems, and have more antisocial features. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the groups. The findings did not support the hypotheses. No differences were found between partner violent men and nonviolent men on the use of defense mechanisms, alcohol related problems, or antisocial features.