Associations between Implicitly Assessed Attitudes, Laboratory Aggression, and Dating Violence

Interpersonal aggression, including that directed toward intimate partners (i.e., dating violence) and non-intimate persons, is a serious problem. Research demonstrated that self-reported attitudes supportive of violence positively related to self-reported interpersonal aggression and dating violence. The present studies expand upon the existing literature by examining how implicitly assessed attitudes regarding the self and aggression related to a laboratory paradigm of interpersonal aggression (Study 1) and dating violence (Study 2). Correlates of aggression, including impulsivity and the Dark Triad personality traits of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy were examined to see if they interacted with implicitly assessed attitudes to predict aggression. Across both studies, it was hypothesized that individuals with stronger self-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes would perpetrate more aggression, and that this would be stronger for individuals high on impulsivity and the Dark Triad traits. Individual college students were recruited to participant in Study 1 (N = 197) and dating couples were recruited to participate in Study 2 (N = 100 [50 dating couples]). Contrary to expectations, in Study 1 participants with stronger other-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes perpetrated more aggression. Narcissism and psychopathy, but not Machiavellianism or impulsivity, related to aggression and these relations were influenced by provocation. In Study 2, implicitly assessed attitudes were not significantly related to dating violence. Further, impulsivity and psychopathy, but not Machiavellianism or narcissism, positively related to aggression. Additionally, in Study 2, participants completed daily surveys examining psychological and physical aggression for 30 consecutive days following the baseline session. I hypothesized that baseline laboratory aggression and self-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes would predict future dating violence. Hypotheses were partially supported. Self-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes did not predict future dating violence, and baseline laboratory aggression only predicted future physical and not psychological dating violence. Findings indicate there are important individual and contextual differences that may enhance our understanding of interpersonal aggression and dating violence. Such considerations are relevant to prevention and intervention programming. Limitations of the present studies and directions for future research based on these limitations are discussed

Associations between Implicitly Assessed Attitudes, Laboratory Aggression, and Dating Violence

Interpersonal aggression, including that directed toward intimate partners (i.e., dating violence) and non-intimate persons, is a serious problem. Research demonstrated that self-reported attitudes supportive of violence positively related to self-reported interpersonal aggression and dating violence. The present studies expand upon the existing literature by examining how implicitly assessed attitudes regarding the self and aggression related to a laboratory paradigm of interpersonal aggression (Study 1) and dating violence (Study 2). Correlates of aggression, including impulsivity and the Dark Triad personality traits of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy were examined to see if they interacted with implicitly assessed attitudes to predict aggression. Across both studies, it was hypothesized that individuals with stronger self-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes would perpetrate more aggression, and that this would be stronger for individuals high on impulsivity and the Dark Triad traits. Individual college students were recruited to participant in Study 1 (N = 197) and dating couples were recruited to participate in Study 2 (N = 100 [50 dating couples]). Contrary to expectations, in Study 1 participants with stronger other-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes perpetrated more aggression. Narcissism and psychopathy, but not Machiavellianism or impulsivity, related to aggression and these relations were influenced by provocation. In Study 2, implicitly assessed attitudes were not significantly related to dating violence. Further, impulsivity and psychopathy, but not Machiavellianism or narcissism, positively related to aggression. Additionally, in Study 2, participants completed daily surveys examining psychological and physical aggression for 30 consecutive days following the baseline session. I hypothesized that baseline laboratory aggression and self-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes would predict future dating violence. Hypotheses were partially supported. Self-aggressive implicitly assessed attitudes did not predict future dating violence, and baseline laboratory aggression only predicted future physical and not psychological dating violence. Findings indicate there are important individual and contextual differences that may enhance our understanding of interpersonal aggression and dating violence. Such considerations are relevant to prevention and intervention programming. Limitations of the present studies and directions for future research based on these limitations are discussed

Antisocial traits, distress tolerance, and alcohol problems as predictors of intimate partner violence in men arrested for domestic violence

© 2016 American Psychological Association. Objective: Men with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) traits are at an increased risk for consuming alcohol and perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV). However, previous research has neglected malleable mechanisms potentially responsible for the link between ASPD traits, alcohol problems, and IPV perpetration. Efforts to improve the efficacy of batterer intervention programs (BIPs) would benefit from exploration of such malleable mechanisms. The present study is the 1st to examine distress tolerance as 1 such mechanism linking men\u27s ASPD traits to their alcohol problems and IPV perpetration. Method: Using a cross-sectional sample of 331 men arrested for domestic violence and court-referred to BIPs, the present study used structural equation modeling to examine pathways from men\u27s ASPD traits to IPV perpetration directly and indirectly through distress tolerance and alcohol problems. Results: Results supported a 2-chain partial mediational model. ASPD traits were related to psychological aggression perpetration directly and indirectly via distress tolerance and alcohol problems. A 2nd pathway emerged by which ASPD traits related to higher levels of alcohol problems, which related to psychological aggression perpetration. Controlling for psychological aggression perpetration, neither distress tolerance nor alcohol problems explained the relation between ASPD traits and physical assault perpetration. Conclusion: These results support and extend existing conceptual models of IPV perpetration. Findings suggest intervention efforts for IPV should target both distress tolerance and alcohol problems

Cyber abuse among men arrested for domestic violence: Cyber monitoring moderates the relationship between alcohol problems and intimate partner violence

© 2017 American Psychological Association. We provide the first investigation of the prevalence and frequency of cyber abuse among men arrested for domestic violence (DV). We also offer the first conceptualization of cyber monitoring, a facet of cyber abuse, within the impellance, instigation, and inhibition theory of intimate partner violence (IPV). That is, the risk of IPV perpetration may be higher for men with alcohol problems who also frequently access emotionally salient instigatory cues, namely, information gleaned from cyber monitoring. Thus, we hypothesized that alcohol problems would positively relate to IPV perpetration among men who engaged in high, but not low, levels of cyber monitoring. Method: Using a cross-sectional sample of 216 men arrested for DV and court-referred to batterer intervention programs (BIPs), we explored the prevalence and frequency of cyber abuse perpetration and victimization. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses tested the interaction between cyber monitoring and alcohol problems predicting IPV perpetration (psychological aggression and physical assault). Results: Eighty-one percent of men endorsed perpetrating at least 1 act of cyber abuse in the year prior to entering BIPs. Alcohol problems and both psychological and physical IPV perpetration positively related at high, but not low, levels of cyber monitoring. Conclusion: Clinicians should assess for cyber abuse and alcohol use among DV offenders. Amendments to legal statutes for DV offenders should consider incorporating common uses of technology into legal definitions of stalking and harassment. Social media campaigns and BIPs should increase individuals\u27 awareness of the criminal charges that may result from some forms of cyber abuse and monitoring

A randomized controlled trial of social media interventions for risky drinking among adolescents and emerging adults

PurposeAlcohol use among adolescents and emerging adults is an important public health issue requiring prevention approaches. Herein, we describe outcomes from a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of group-based social media interventions targeting risky drinking among youth.ProceduresUsing social media advertisements to screen potential participants, we recruited 955 youth (ages 16-24) reporting recent risky drinking. After completing a baseline assessment, participants were randomized to 8-week secret Facebook group conditions: Social Media Intervention + Incentives for engagement, Social Media Intervention only, and attention-placebo control. Electronic coaches trained in motivational interviewing facilitated interaction in intervention groups. Primary outcomes include past 3-month alcohol use and consequences over 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Secondary outcomes include other drug use, consequences, and impaired driving. We also measured intervention engagement and acceptability.ResultsThe interventions were well-received, with significantly greater acceptability ratings and engagement in the SMI+I condition relative to other groups. In adjusted analyses, there were no significant differences between interventions and control on alcohol-related outcomes, with all groups showing reductions. Regarding secondary outcomes (70.4% used other drugs), compared to control, the incentivized group reduced other drug use, consequences, and cannabis-impaired driving; the non-incentivized group did not significantly differ from the control condition.ConclusionsAmong this predominantly poly-substance using sample, findings were mixed, with significant effects of the incentivized social media intervention on drug (but not alcohol) outcomes. Future studies are needed to further refine social media-delivered interventions to reduce alcohol and other drug use.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02809586; University of Michigan HUM#00102242