Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Psychology

Date of Award

12-2002

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Peggy J. Cantrell

Committee Members

Jon B. Ellis, James R. Bitter

Abstract

This study explored an individual's need for control and the level of violence within a dating relationship.

This was a self-report study. Subjects consisted of 175 students from a university in the southern Appalachian region of the U.S. Questionnaires were combined with a scenario depicting violent behavior. Subjects were asked to rate their level of control on the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Inventory (FIRO-B), to complete the Conflict Tactics Scale - revised (CTS-2), and to rate the acceptability of the scenario. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA.

Results did not support the main hypothesis. No relationship was found between control and violent behavior, or between men and women and their expression of control. There was no connection between violence and level of expressed control. Men showed more approval for violence than women. Individuals with higher levels of expressed control were more accepting of violence than others without the need to control.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

Included in

Psychology Commons

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