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Displayed Affective Behavior between Intimate Partner Violence Types during Non-Violent Conflict Discussions

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Abstract

Little is known about how situationally violent (SV) couples differ from both characterologically violent (CV) and distressed, non-violent (DNV) couples in terms of their displayed affective behaviors during conflict. This study addressed this question by conducting secondary data analysis of two datasets (Jacobson and Gottman 1998 and Bradley et al. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 10(2), 97–116, 2011), examining displayed affective behaviors among these groups. We hypothesized that the SV group would present a midpoint of affect between the other two groups, displaying more negative behaviors than the DNV group, but less than the CV group (and vice versus for positive behaviors). A MANOVA was utilized to compare displayed affective behaviors coded from observational analysis of a conflict discussion. Results show that the SV group displayed more positive and less negative affective behaviors than CV group. Few differences were seen between the SV and DNV groups. This suggests that these two groups are similar in terms of their displayed affective behaviors during conflict.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mathematica Policy Research, 111 East Wacker Drive, Suite 920, Chicago, IL, 60601, USA

    Daniel J. Friend

  2. Center for Applied Research Solutions, Santa Rosa, CA, USA

    Renay P. Cleary Bradley

  3. The Gottman Institute, Seattle, WA, USA

    John M. Gottman

Authors
  1. Daniel J. Friend
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  2. Renay P. Cleary Bradley
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  3. John M. Gottman
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Correspondence to Daniel J. Friend.

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A portion of this study was supported by a grant (#90OJ2022) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ACF.

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Friend, D.J., Bradley, R.P.C. & Gottman, J.M. Displayed Affective Behavior between Intimate Partner Violence Types during Non-Violent Conflict Discussions. J Fam Viol 32, 493–504 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-016-9870-7

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