title: The effects of intimacy and target sex on direct aggression: further evidence.
abstract: The effects on aggression of target sex and relationship with the target were investigated using self-report data. One hundred and seventy-four participants (115 female) reported on acts of direct aggression in the last 2 years toward intimate partners, known and unknown same-sex targets, and known and unknown opposite-sex targets. Women's self-reported aggression was higher toward partners than other targets, replicating previous findings regarding women's intimate partner aggression. Women's aggression was consistently higher toward same-sex than opposite-sex targets, but the effect of knowing the target was inconsistent. Men's self-reported aggression was more frequent toward same-sex than opposite-sex targets-including intimate partners-and more frequent toward known than unknown targets. Results are discussed with reference to a partner-specific reduction in women's fear, and sex differences in threshold for classifying someone as "known well." Limitations of the present sample and suggestions for future work are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Schools of Biology and Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom. cpc2@st-andrews.ac.uk
authors.forename: Catharine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aggression; intimacy; sex differences; target sex