Adaptability and cohesion: Implications for understanding the violence-prone system

Lehr, Ron; Fitzsimmons, George

doi:10.1007/bf00980532

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Comparing aggressive and nonaggressive couples, the former show more conflict, more negative interaction, less cohesion, and less effective problem solving strategies (Anglin & Holtzworth-Munroe, 1997;Lehr & Fitzsimmons, 1991;Lloyd, 1990;Lloyd, 1996;Meredith et al, 1986). We proposed that aggressive men and women may have different perceptions of the relationship context.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Important to the current investigation, however, is the fact that none of these studies, which generally take the couple as the unit of analysis, recognize that within aggressive relationships male and female offenders may differ in their perceptions of outcomes. Lehr and Fitzsimmons (1991) examined 75 married couples seeking therapy for marital discord, and found that "highly violent" couples were less cohesive (more disengaged) than "nonviolent" couples. Meredith et al (1986) found, in a sample of 304 married participants, that, as the amount of spousal aggression increased, family strengths (e.g., family pride, trust, loyalty, and problem solving competency) decreased.…”

Section: The Impact Of Aggression On Family Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 203 Spidle Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849; e-mail: joe.pittman@auburn.edu. quality (Lehr & Fitzsimmons, 1991;Lloyd, 1996;Madgol et al, 1997;Meredith et al, 1986;Nazroo, 1995;Stets & Straus, 1990;Vivian & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 1994;Zlotnick et al, 1998). The primary purpose of the current study is to examine these discrepant perceptions as reported by abusive males and females when the nature of the abuse is "bidirectional," i.e., both spouses are recognized as aggressive toward one another, versus "unidirectional," i.e., where a clear offender and clear victim exist in the aggressive situation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex of Spouse Abuse Offender and Directionality of Abuse as Predictors of Personal Distress, Interpersonal Functioning, and Perceptions of Family Climate

Taylor

Pittman

2005

J Fam Viol

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This study examines perceptions of personal distress, interpersonal functioning and family climate reported by men and women involved in unidirectional versus bidirectional spouse abuse. Participants were 7253 offenders treated by the USAF Family Advocacy Program from 1988 to 1996. Over a quarter of the sample is female and included among them were both unidirectional and bidirectional offenders. Grouping factors for the analysis are gender, directionality of aggression, history of abuse in childhood, history of recidivism, and severity of aggression. Females and offenders raised in abusive homes reported more negative perceptions across the measured spheres. Unidirectional abusers reported more personal distress, but bidirectional abuse had more conflicted family climates. Few differences were noted in offenders' perceptions based on the severity of their abuse or their history of repeat offenses. Tests for interactions yielded no reliable pattern indicating that grouping factors were related to outcomes in an additive fashion.KEY WORDS: spouse abuse; sex of offender; mutual abuse; severity of abuse; recidivism; childhood history of abuse.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Impact Of Aggression On Family Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex of Spouse Abuse Offender and Directionality of Abuse as Predictors of Personal Distress, Interpersonal Functioning, and Perceptions of Family Climate

Taylor

Pittman

2005

J Fam Viol

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“…A study of 234 battered women (Fohgstad, Laughh, Polek, Rutledge, & Hause, 1991) revealed that women report staying with an abuser because they believed they were in a very unhealthy emotional state following the abuse. Lehrs and Fitzsimmons (1991) studied levels of cohesion and structure within family systems. It was hypothesized that deeply enmeshed couples were more prone to violence.…”

Section: An Unequal Distribution Of Power and Blurring Of Boundaries mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Family systems theory addresses violent couples rather than violent males. Violence is seen as a product of the system, rather than an individual pathology (Lehrs & Fitzsimmons, 1991).…”

Section: Family Systems Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Domestic Violence: Counseling Strategies That Minimize the Impact of Secondary Victimization

Hattendorf

Tollerud

2009

Perspectives in Psychiatric Care

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topic. Psychotherapy with abused women purpose. To contrast the usefulness of several models of psychotherapy with abused women source. Review of the literature and clinical experience of the authors conclusions. Because marital counseling often focuses on the violence as a product of the couple system rather than oppression of the woman, the authors recommend individual counseling to address developmentally determined feelings of helplessness. The goal of this psychotherapy is empowerment.

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Cohesion, Marital

Doane

2016

Encyclopedia of Family Studies

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Marital cohesion refers to the degree of connectedness, togetherness, and emotional bonding between marital partners. Cohesion in marriages is related to positive relationship qualities, including greater relationship satisfaction and lower hostility between partners. Also, marital cohesion is positively related to individual well‐being, such as higher levels of self‐esteem. Yet, extremely high levels of cohesion may be unhealthy for marriages, reflecting too much dependence between partners. An optimal level of cohesion in marriages is defined by balancing healthy levels of both separateness and togetherness. Marital cohesion is included in research on both the dyadic adjustment process and the circumplex model of marital functioning. Previous research has focused on studying cohesion at the individual level, and future work should seek to model cohesion at the dyadic level (i.e., describing how cohesion functions between relationship partners).

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Adaptability and cohesion: Implications for understanding the violence-prone system

Cited by 7 publications

References 10 publications

Sex of Spouse Abuse Offender and Directionality of Abuse as Predictors of Personal Distress, Interpersonal Functioning, and Perceptions of Family Climate

Sex of Spouse Abuse Offender and Directionality of Abuse as Predictors of Personal Distress, Interpersonal Functioning, and Perceptions of Family Climate

Domestic Violence: Counseling Strategies That Minimize the Impact of Secondary Victimization

Cohesion, Marital

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