Perceptions of Verbal Aggression in Romantic Relationships: The Role of Family History and Motivational Systems

Abstract

This study examined the perceived acceptability of verbally aggressive behavior in adult romantic relationships as a function of both exposure to familial verbal aggression in childhood and the strength of peoples' motivational systems. Previous research suggests that a history of familial verbal aggression in childhood desensitizes an individual's psychological, behavioral, and physiological responses in adulthood to be more tolerant of their own and other's verbally aggressive behavior. In addition, the degree to which childhood exposure to familial verbal aggression leads to desensitization in the form of adult acceptance of aggression in romantic relationships may be influenced by characteristics of people's motivational systems. To examine this, 87 college-aged students completed measures assessing their history of familial verbal aggression, strength of their behavioral inhibition and activation systems, and their reported inclination to enact verbal aggression in a romantic relationship. History of familial verbal aggression was positively associated with the perceived acceptability of verbal aggression against a romantic partner, and this association was stronger for individuals with higher behavioral inhibition system scores.

Keywords:

• BIS/BAS
• Desensitization
• Familial Conflict
• Verbal Aggression

Acknowledgments

An earlier version of this article was presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the National Communication Association.

Notes

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lindsey Susan Aloia

Lindsey Susan Aloia (MA, The University of Delaware) is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, where Denise Haunani Solomon (PhD, Northwestern University) is both a Professor and Associate Dean for graduate studies.