Abstract
This study used a modified version of the Conflict Tactic Scale (Straus, 1990) to measure the expression of verbal and physical aggression among 572 college students (395 females and 177 males) involved in dating relationships over the previous year. Results indicated that 82% (n = 465) of the total sample reported having engaged in verbally aggressive behavior with a dating partner over the past year, whereas 21% (n = 116) admitted to acting in a physically aggressive manner over the same interval. No significant gender-based difference was found for verbal aggression scores; however, females were significantly more likely to report using physical force than were male students. Male and female students who used verbal aggression were characteristically similar to each. Both had experienced aggression from a parent as children and had drunk alcohol within 3 hours (before or after) an argument with a dating partner. Male and female students who admitted using physical force were dissimilar except that both had experienced parent-child aggression. For male students, having witnessed conjugal violence and their general drinking patterns were also significantly related to their using physical force, whereas for females, the use of physical force was associated with drinking alcohol within 3 hours of an argument with a dating partner.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Alexander, P. C., Moore, S.,& Alexander, E. R. (1991). What is transmitted in the intergenerational transmission of violence? Journal of Marriage and Family, 53, 657–668.
Billingham, R. E. (1987). Courtship violence: The patterns of conflict resolution strategies across seven level of emotional commitment. Family Relations, 36, 283–289.
Bernard, M. L., and Bernard, J. L. (1983). Violent intimacy: The family as a model for love relationships. Family Relations, 32, 283–286.
Brodbelt, S. (1983). College dating and aggression. College Student Journal, 17, 283–286.
DeMaris, A. (1987). The efficacy of a spouse abuse model in accounting for courtship violence. Journal of Family Issues, 8, 291–305.
Follingstad, D. R., Wright, S., Lloyd, S., & Sebastian, J. A. (1991). Sex differences in motivations and effects in dating violence. Family Relations, 40, 51–57.
Gwartney-Gibbs, P. A., Stockard, J., & Bohmer, S. (1987). Learning courtship aggression: The influence of parents, peers, and personal experiences. Family Relations, 36, 276–282.
Hesselbrock, M., Babor, T. F., Hesselbroack, V., Meyer, R. E.,& Workman, K. (1983). “ Never believe an alcoholic”? On the validity of self-report measures of alcohol dependence and related constructs. International Journal of Addictions, 18, 593–609.
Kantor, G. K., & Straus, M. A. (1987). The “drunken bum” theory of wife beating. Social Problems, 34, 213–230.
Kilpatrick, D. G., & Smith, A. D. (1974). Validation of the Spence-Helmreich Attitudes Towards Women Scale. Psychological Reports, 35, 461–462.
Lane, K. E., & Gwartney-Gibbs, P. A. (1985). Violence in the context of dating and sex. Journal of Family Issues, 6, 45–59.
Laner, M. R. (1983). Courtship abuse and aggression: Contextual aspects. Sociological Spectrum, 3, 69–83.
Laner, M. R., & Thompson, J. (1982). Abuse and aggression in courting couples. Developmental Behavior, 3, 229–244.
Lunneborg, P. W. (1974). Validity of attitudes towards women scale. Psychological Reports, 34, 1281–1282.
Makepeace, J. M. (1981). Gender differences in courtship violence and victimization. Family Relations, 35, 383–388.
Marshall, L. L., & Rose, P. (1988). Family of origin violence and courtship abuse. Journal of Counseling and Development, 66, 414–418.
Matthews, W. J. (1984) Violence in college couples. College Student Journal, 18, 150–158.
McKinney, K. (1986). Measures of verbal, physical, and sexual dating violence by gender. Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, 14, 55–60.
Riggs, D. S. (1993). Relationship problems and dating aggression. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8, 18–35.
Riggs, D. S., O'Leary, K. D., & Breslin, F. C. (1990). Multiple correlates of physical aggression in dating couples. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 5, 61–73.
Sigelman, C. K., Berry, C. J., & Wiles, K. A. (1984). Violence in college students' dating relationships. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2, 219–220.
Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R., & Stapp. (1973). A short version of the attitudes toward women scale (AWS). Bulletin of Psychology and Sociology, 2, 219–220.
Stets, J. E., & Henderson, D. A. (1991). Contextual factors surrounding conflict resolution while dating: Results from a national study. Family Relations, 40, 29–36.
Stets, J. E., & Pirog-Good, M. A. (1987). Violence in dating relationships. Social Psychology Quarterly, 50, 237–245.
Straus, M. (1990). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The conflict tactics (CT) scales. In M. A. Straus & R. J. Gelles (Eds.), Physical violence in American families: Risk factors and adaptation to violence in 8,145 families, New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
Straus, M., Gelles, R., & Steinmetz, S. (1980). Behind closed doors: Violence in the American family, New York: Anchor.
Sugarman, D., & Hotaling, G. (1989). Dating violence: Prevalence, context, risk markers. In M. Priog-Good & J. Stets (Eds.), Violence in dating relationships, New York: Praeger.
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (1989). Using multivariate statistics: Harper Collins.
Vernis, J. S. (1983). Agreement between alcoholics and relatives when reporting follow-up status. International Journal of Addictions, 18, 891–894.
Yoder, J. D., Rice, R. W., Adams, J., Priest, R. F., & Prince, H. T. (1982). Reliability of the attitudes towards women scale (AWS) and personal attributes questionnaire (PAQ). Sex Roles, 8, 651–657.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shook, N.J., Gerrity, D.A., Jurich, J. et al. Courtship Violence Among College Students: A Comparison of Verbally and Physically Abusive Couples. Journal of Family Violence 15, 1–22 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007532718917
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007532718917