This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Bookwala, J. Articles by Zdaniuk, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Adult Attachment Styles and Aggressive Behavior within Dating Relationships

University of Pennsylvania

Bozena Zdaniuk

University of Pittsburgh

Recent developments in the application of attachment theory to the study of adult relationships are used to explain the occurrence of aggression in dating relationships. We compared individuals who reported being engaged in reciprocally aggressive dating relationships with individuals who reported being in non-aggressive relationships on measures of attachment patterns and interpersonal problems. To examine the robustness of the attachment-aggression relationship, we also statistically controlled for the effects of interpersonal problems. Using a sample of 85 undergraduate students, we found that, after controlling for relationship satisfaction and length of relationship, those involved in reciprocally aggressive relationships scored higher on the preoccupied and fearful-avoidant attachment styles and reported experiencing more interpersonal problems than did individuals involved in non-aggressive dating relationships. When we controlled for interpersonal problems, however, only the relationship between preoccupied attachment and aggression was observed. Although sex differences were found for attachment style scores and interpersonal problems, no significant sex x type of relationship (non-aggressive vs reciprocally aggressive) effects were observed. The results are discussed in the context of recent findings on attachment, conflict and aggression and recommendations for future research are offered.

Key Words: adult attachment • aggression • dating relationships • interpersonal problems

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 15, No. 2, 175-190 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407598152003


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. J. Allison, K. Bartholomew, O. Mayseless, and D. G. Dutton Love as a Battlefield: Attachment and Relationship Dynamics in Couples Identified for Male Partner Violence Journal of Family Issues, January 1, 2008; 29(1): 125 - 150. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Bookwala The Role of Own and Perceived Partner Attachment in Relationship Aggression J Interpers Violence, January 1, 2002; 17(1): 84 - 100. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. R. Ross and B. Spinner General and Specific Attachment Representations in Adulthood: Is there a Relationship? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 2001; 18(6): 747 - 766. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. M. Williamson and J. G. Silverman Violence Against Female Partners: Direct and Interactive Effects of Family History, Communal Orientation, and Peer-Related Variables Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, August 1, 2001; 18(4): 535 - 549. [Abstract] [PDF]