Socialization in the Family of Origin and Male Dating Violence: A Prospective Study

Abstract

The most popular explanations for dating violence posit that it is learned in the family of origin. We specify several theoretical perspectives regarding the manner in which parental behavior might increase the probability that an adolescent will engage in dating violence. The theories were tested with panel data from a sample of 113 adolescent males. Structural equation modeling was employed to assess the extent to which various parental behaviors during early adolescence predict high school dating violence. Although frequent exposure to corporal punishment increased the risk of dating violence, this was not the case for interparental aggression, which did not predict dating violence. Low support and involvement by parents was associated with adolescent delinquency and drug use, which, in turn, predicted involvement in dating violence. Key Words: dating violence, intergenerational transmission, parenting, socialization. Evidence from a variety of studies indicates that physical violence occurs in at least 20% of all dating relationships (Arias, Samios, & O'Leary, 1987; Riggs, O'Leary, & Breslin, 1990; Sigelman, Berry, & Wiles, 1984; White & Koss, 1991). Although most of this aggression consists of pushing, grabbing, or slapping, from 1% to 3% of participants in college samples report that they have experienced severe forms of aggression such as beatings or assaults with an object (Arias et al., 1987; Makepeace, 1981, 1986; Riggs, 1993; Riggs et al., 1990; Sigelman et al., 1984). Research indicates that males and females are equally likely to engage in dating violence. However, women are at much greater risk than men for sustaining injuries from dating aggression (Arias et al., 1987; Bookwala, Frieze, Smith, & Ryan, 1992; Makepeace, 1986; Riggs, 1993; Stets & Pirog-Good, 1987; Sugarman & Hotaling, 1989). The study of dating violence is important for two reasons. First, such behavior often results in physical and emotional injury. Makepeace (1986), for example, found that 50% of female college students who experienced dating aggression sustained physical injuries as a result of the assault. Second, there is reason to believe that dating violence is often a precursor to spousal abuse. Many battered women report that they were first assaulted by their husband during courtship (Kelly & Loesch, 1983; Roscoe & Benaske, 1985). Thus research on dating violence may further our understanding of the etiology of marital violence. The most popular explanation for dating violence is that it is a learned behavior acquired in the family of origin. Witnessing parents' marital aggression or being the victim of harsh corporal punishment may greatly increase the chances that a child will grow up to use violence in dating relationships. Although this idea is widely accepted, investigations of the hypothesis have provided mixed results. Such inconsistent findings may be a consequence of methodological deficiencies inherent in much of the prior research. In the study presented here, we specify three avenues whereby parental behavior might increase an adolescent's risk for dating violence. In an effort to avoid the limitations associated with previous studies, we use parent and child reports and a prospective design to evaluate the adequacy of these three hypotheses regarding experiences in the family of origin and dating aggression. PARENTAL BEHAVIOR AND DATING VIOLENCE Researchers usually specify observational learning as the process whereby parents influence the probability that their children will be violent in intimate relationships. Some describe the learning process as one of imitation; others emphasize lessons about the legitimacy of violence in intimate relationships. The imitation explanation asserts that children learn about romantic relationships by observing interactions between their parents. Children exposed to violent parental interaction learn that aggression is a normal part of romantic relationships, and as adults they are likely to engage in such behavior when interacting with a dating partner. …

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