title: The consequences of perpetrating psychological aggression in dating relationships: a descriptive investigation.
abstract: Psychological aggression is the most prevalent form of aggression in dating relationships, with women perpetrating as much, if not more, psychological aggression than men. Researchers have advocated for an examination of the consequences that follow psychological aggression for the perpetrator, in hopes that this will lead to innovative intervention programs aimed at ameliorating dating violence. The current study investigated the self-reported consequences of having perpetrated psychological aggression against a dating partner among female college students in a current dating relationship (N = 115). Participants endorsed numerous consequences as having followed their perpetration of psychological aggression, including both punishing and potentially reinforcing consequences. Furthermore, findings indicated that for some perpetrators, psychological aggression may function as a method of emotion regulation. Implications of these findings for future research and intervention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. rshorey@utk.edu
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shorey
authors.forename: Jeff R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.forename: Jeniimarie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Febres
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brasfield
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stuart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult