Attributions of Negative Partner Behaviour by Men who Physically Abuse Their Partners

Conflict in close relationships is associated with specific patterns of attributions (Bradbury & Fincham 1990). The objective of this study was to investigate If violence would be associated with particular type of attributions made for negative partner behaviours. Three groups of men were classified using the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS; Straus, 1979) as physically violent (in Domestic Violence Intervention Progams), (n = 19), non-physically violent in (counselling), ( n = 17), and non-physically violent in the (community), (n = 31 ). The Relationship Attribution Measure (RAM) by Fincham & Bradbury, ( 1992) was used to assess the attributional dependent variables of locus, stability, globality, intent, motivation and blame. A one-way MANOVA revealed a significant overall difference on the six attributional dimensions between the physically violent and non physically violent men. Post hoc comparisons showed that physically violent men were more likely than the non physically violent men (counselling) to attribute the negative behaviour of their partners to unchangeable, intentional rather than unintentional, selfishly motivated and blameworthy causes. Further, the physically violent men were more likely than the non-physically violent (community) to make attributions that globally affected other areas of the relationship, as well as attributing their negative partner\u27s behaviour to be intentional, selfish and blameworthy. When the effect of marital satisfaction was controlled using a one-way MANCOV A, the group difference on attributional measures disappeared. This suggested that marital satisfaction was likely to account for the attributional differences between the groups, rather than the violence per se. Practical implications for men in Domestic Violence Intervention Programs are suggested. A number of methodological issues arc discussed and directions for future research arc considere

The relationship between symptoms of perceived trauma and verbal learning and memory deficits

Recent empirical studies on individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) report an association between PTSD and deficits in short-term verbal memory. While the previous studies utilised a global score of PTSD, the present study assessed the association of individual symptoms as a result of perceived traumatic events with verbal learning and memory deficits. In addition, the severity of the traumatic events was examined as well as gender, age, IQ, education and previous alcohol abuse and drug use. A sample of 148 adults reported to have experienced a traumatic event such as sexual or physical abuse ns children. war veterans, or other severe traumas were recruited from agencies and communities in Western Australia. Participants were administered an adaptation of the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI: Briere, 1995) to assess perceived symptoms associated with PTSD: intrusive experiences, defensive avoidance, anxious arousal, dissociation, depression and anger. The vocabulary subscale of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R; Wechsler, 1981) was used as the indicator for the level of lQ, while alcohol abuse was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; Babor, de Ia Fuenta & Saunders, 1992). Verbal learning and memory was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RA VLT; Spreen & Strauss, 1991). A series of four hierarchical multiple regressions using sets of demographic, trauma severity and trauma symptom variables predicted four measures from the RAVLT: Trial I, sum of Trials l-5 for verbal learning and for verbal memory immediate and delayed recall trials. Firstly, it was found that the demographic factors of gender, age, IQ, education, alcohol and drug use accounted significantly for 24-32% of the variance for predicting verbal learning and 17-24% for verbal memory. Secondly, when the set of trauma severity factors (ie number of traumas, distress and duration) were included in step 2 of the hierarchical multiple regressions, n significant increase was found of 4-6% of the variance in predicting verbal learning and 2-4 %for predicting verbal memory. Thirdly, by partially out the set of demographic variables and the set of trauma severity variables, the set of trauma symptoms significantly increased the prediction by 2-3% of the variance for verbal learning and 5-6% of the verbal memory. Specifically, the symptoms of dissociation and anxious arousal contributed significantly to the prediction of immediate recall, while anxious arousal was the only significant trauma symptom for predicting delayed recall. Verbal learning and memory deficits may have serious implication in a number of settings in particular, children\u27s early academic performance, for those seeking therapy, and in the court-room. Assessing dissociative symptoms associated with trauma may be a useful strategy for assisting individuals in the treatment of trauma intervention. One further recommendation is made to assess specific trauma symptoms rather than a global PTSD score

Attributions of Negative Partner Behavior by Men Who Physically Abuse Their Partners

Daniel Reidpath - ORCID: 0000-0002-8796-0420 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0420Item is not available in this repository.This study investigated the association between family violence and the attributions made for negative partner behaviors in an Australian context. Three groups of men were classified as physically violent (in counseling), non-physically violent (in counseling), and non-physically violent (in the community). The Relationship Attribution Measure was used to assess the attributional dependent variables of locus, stability, globality, intent, motivation, and blame. Significant differences between violent and nonviolent men on each of the attributional dimensions were found. Physically violent men were more likely than non-physically violent men (counseling) to attribute the negative behavior of their partners to unchangeable, intentional rather than unintentional, selfishly motivated, and blameworthy causes. However, these differences disappeared when marital satisfaction was controlled. The implications of this work for domestic violence intervention programs are discussed, along with a number of methodological issues and directions for future research.https://doi.org/10.1023/A:100759082769615pubpub