Power and Violence The Relation Between Communication Patterns, Power Discrepancies, and Domestic Violence

• Published in: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 40 - 50
• Main Authors: Babcock, Julia C, Waltz, Jennifer, Jacobson, Neil S, Gottman, John M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01-02-1993
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Communication; Communication Skills; Domestic violence; Factors; Family Violence; Female; Gender Identity; Human; Humans; Interpersonal Control; Intimate Partner Violence; Male; Marital Conflict; Marital Therapy; Marriage; Marriage - psychology; Medical sciences; Power (Psychology); Power relationships; Power Structure; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Social research; Spouse Abuse - prevention & control; Spouse Abuse - psychology; Spouses; Victimology; Violence; Human; Marital relation; Decision making; Conflict resolution; Violence; Sex; Victimology; Gender role; Social behavior; Social interaction; Social power; Risk factor; Adult; Communication
• ISSN: 0022-006X; 1939-2117
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.61.1.40

This study hypothesized that power discrepancies in the marital relationship, where the husband is subordinate, serve as risk factors for husband-to-wife violence. The construct of marital power was assessed from 3 power domains operationalized by discrepancies in economic status, decision-making power, communication patterns, and communication skill. Three groups of married couples (
N
= 95) were compared: domestically violent (DV), maritally distressed/nonviolent (DNV), and maritally happy/nonviolent (HNV). DV couples were more likely than the 2 nonviolent groups to engage in husband demand/wife withdraw interactions. Within the DV group, husbands who had less power were more physically abusive toward their wives. Thus, violence may be compensatory behavior to make up for husbands' lack of power in other arenas of marriage. Difficulties in assessing martial power and future direction for the study of power and violence are discussed.