Applying attachment theory to understanding men who batter
Abstract
In order to learn more about the variability among men who batter, this study used attachment theory to understand men's violence against their female partner. In addition, in order to develop more efficacious interventions to assist men in stopping their violence, this study also sought to identify potential mediators of attachment and men's psychological and physical violence. In this study, Bartholomew's (1990) four category theoretical model of adult attachment was used. Based on a review of the existing literature, three potential mediators (e.g., social support perception, social support satisfaction, and support-seeking) of attachment and men's violence were also identified. The sample included 138 men recruited from a batterer intervention program. They completed the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ; Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991), the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale-2 (CTS-2, Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996), a modified version of the Controlling Behaviors Index (CBI; Dobash, Dobash, Cavanaugh, & Lewis, 1998), a project-designed Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ; Sarason, Levine, Basham, & Sarason 1983), the Family Crisis-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES; McCubbin, Larsen, & Olson, 1982), the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale--short Form (MCDS; Crowne & Marlowe, 1960), and a demographic questionnaire. Results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship between a fearful style of attachment and men's levels of psychological aggression, physical assault and sexual coercion. A statistically significant positive relationship was also found between a preoccupied style of attachment and sexual coercion. In addition, those men with a fearful style of attachment reported significantly higher levels of psychological abuse, as measured by the CBI, and sexual coercion when compared to those men with a secure attachment style. Men with a preoccupied attachment style had significantly higher levels of physical violence when compared to men with a secure attachment style. No significant relationships were found between the proposed mediators and the independent and criterion variables. Implications for practice, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Erika Lauren Shore,
"Applying attachment theory to understanding men who batter"
(January 1, 2002).
Boston College Dissertations and Theses.
Paper AAI3043408.
http://escholarship.bc.edu/dissertations/AAI3043408
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