NCJ Number
178836
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 315-329
Date Published
September 1999
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined the role of self-concept in distinguishing men who assault their female partners from their nonbattering peers.
Abstract
Constructs that have emerged from the self-concept literature provide some promise for understanding personality attributes that can help explain why some men assault their partners and others do not. There are two constructs in particular that apparently help explain volatile reactions in relationships. The first construct is negative self-concept associated with relationship role performance. The second construct is the unstable self-conception. In a sample of 272 men matched on education achievement, this study used negative self-concept and unstable self-concept to distinguish known wife assaulters from their non-assaultive peers. The research variables and potential third variables were measured through two data collection forms. The research variables of negative self- concept, externalization of self-concept, and unstable self- concept were measured with the Personal Relations Inventory. Findings from a logistic regression analysis show that each construct predicted violent and nonviolent groups at approximately 77-percent accuracy. 8 tables and 55 references