Intergenerational Transmission of Violence, Self-Control, and Conjugal Violence: A Comparative Analysis of Physical Violence and Psychological Aggression

Abstract

This paper is a sequel to Avakame (1998), a study which sought to determine whether (a) violence in families of origin affects males’ psychological aggression toward wives, and (b) whether the intergenerational transmission effect is solely direct or mediated by Gottfredson and Hirschi’s concept of self-control. The current research extends these questions to females’ psychological aggression as well as males’ and females’ physical violence. The models were estimated using data from the 1975 National Family Violence Survey. Like its precursor, results of the present research suggest that it is useful to (a) distinguish between mothers’ and fathers’ violence and (b) recognize that the intergenerational transmission of violence may be mediated by self-control. Specifically, results suggested that, whether considering physical violence or psychological aggression, fathers’ violence is most likely to exert the direct social learning effect.

Assessing the Overlap in Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization among South Korean College Students: The Influence of Social Learning and Self-Control

“…Some scholars propose that applications of social learning theory to interpersonal violence have been excessively simplistic (Avakame, 1998;Widom, 1989). Although we contend that we are not testing a complete model of social learning theory, we are examining one component of it-the relationship between childhood abuse and adult violence.…”

The Effects of Low Self-Control and Childhood Maltreatment on Stalking Victimization among Men and Women

“…Important research by Avakame (1998) suggests that a link exists between low self-control and physical and psychological intimate partner violence for both men and women. Furthermore, Avakame (1998) suggests that physical punishment during childhood by mothers predicts low self-control among females.…”

“…Important research by Avakame (1998) suggests that a link exists between low self-control and physical and psychological intimate partner violence for both men and women. Furthermore, Avakame (1998) suggests that physical punishment during childhood by mothers predicts low self-control among females. Given these findings and the close relationship between intimate partner violence and stalking (Logan et al 2000), there is substantial evidence to suggest that stalking victimization may also be related to childhood maltreatment.…”

Self-control behind bars: A validation study of the Grasmick et al. scale

“…In other words, the reason that peer associations appear to be related to crime is that criminals are more likely to fraternize with persons like themselves. Others, however, have suggested that social learning processes, particularly those learned from association with delinquent peers, mediate the effects of selfcontrol (Avakame, 1998;Gibson & Wright, 2001;Winfree & Bernat, 1998). For example, Gibson and Wright (2001) found that the interaction between self-control and delinquent peers is potentially the most fruitful indicator of criminal involvement (also see Wood, Cochran, Pfefferbaum, & Arneklev, 1995).…”