This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted 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 Fold, S. L. Articles by Robinson, D. T. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Secondary Bystander Effects on Intimate Violence: When Norms of Restraint Reduce Deterrence

Louisiana State University

Dawn T. Robinson

Louisiana State University

Research on bystander effects indicates that bystanders encourage individuals to behave in conformity with norms. In modern Western society, there are norms against stronger actors using violence against weaker actors. To the extent that the presence of a bystander reduces the likelihood that stronger actors use violence toward weaker actors, we suggest that weaker actors may become more likely to use violence toward stronger actors because of their reduced risks from retaliation. In the present study, subjects indicated their own likelihoods of using violence in hypothetical situations of boyfriend/girlfriend conflicts with and without bystanders. As theoretically predicted, the results showed that the presence of a bystander decreased the use of violence by males toward females, and increased the use of violence by females toward males. We suggest that a greater understanding of indirect effects on interpersonal relationships is essential for both social theory and policy.

Key Words: bystander • deterrence • gender • interpersonal • violence • norms

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 15, No. 2, 277-285 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407598152010


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

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. L. Feld and R. B. Felson Gender Norms and Retaliatory Violence Against Spouses and Acquaintances Journal of Family Issues, May 1, 2008; 29(5): 692 - 703. [Abstract] [PDF]