広島大学心理学研究 Issue 21
published_at 2022-03-31

The preliminary study for the process from attachment anxiety to physical aggression: The escalation theory of domestic violence

Xie Xinyu
Fukui Ken-ichiro
Nakashima Ken’ichiro
fulltext
647 KB
HPR_21_43.pdf
Abstract
This study aims to provide preliminary evidence of the process by which high attachment anxiety leads to physical attacks from the perspective of the escalation theory of domestic violence (DV). A scenario of a romantic conflict was presented to survey respondents, and the respondents’ jealousy and their coping behaviors were measured. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that not only did a pattern emerge of relationships in which a high degree of attachment anxiety enhanced physical aggression through high psychological aggression toward partners, but also that the relationship between attachment anxiety and psychological aggression was mediated by the intensity of the emotional and cognitive aspects of jealousy and by coping behaviors with conflict in a romantic relationship. The results suggest the need to elaborate on the process by which high attachment anxiety leads to physical attacks from the lens of the escalation theory of DV.
Keywords
attachment anxiety
aggression
coping behavior with conflict
escalation theory
jealousy