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Adolescent Attitudes to Abuse of Women: Are Wives and Nonmarital Partners Viewed Differently?

NCJ Number
164072
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 391-409
Author(s)
N Falchikov
Date Published
1996
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The attitudes of three groups of adolescents toward domestic violence were studied to determine their likelihood of using physical violence in future relationships, as well as differences in attitudes toward wives and nonmarital partners.
Abstract
The 274 participants were students in secondary schools in Edinburgh, Scotland. Data were collected using two versions of Briere's Attitudes to Wife Abuse scale. Self- reports of the likelihood of using physical violence in future relationship were collected by means of four versions of Briere's Likelihood of Battering scale. Results indicated that, overall, males are more tolerant of domestic assault than are females. However, females recorded a greater likelihood of using physical violence in future relationships than did males. Findings also suggested that wives or husbands were regarded differently from nonmarital partners. Attitude measures indicated that if the attitudes expressed translate into action, in future relationship women may be better off as partners than as wives. However, behavior predicted by females hinted that husbands might be subject to higher expectations than nonmarital partners. Tables, appended instrument, and 31 references (Author abstract modified)