PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Anna McCarthy

MA-Research
January 2001

Gender Differences in the Incidences of, Motives for, and Consequences of, Dating Violence Among College Students

    Many studies examining the phenomenon of dating violence have used some version of the Conflict Tactics Scales to measure incidences (although they do not provide any information on motives and consequences of such behavior).  The first study, a campus-wide survey of 1,145 students, examined incidences, motives for, and consequences of dating violence.  The second study, an experimental paradigm involving 117 students, examined the effects of traditional sex-roles and prior exposure to dating/domestic violence on recognition of dating violence.   Results indicated that male and female participants did not differ in the extent to which they were victimized; male participants perpetrated dating violence at higher rates; there were not gender differences in motives and consequences; subscription to traditional gender roles, and prior exposure to dating/domestic violence did not affect perceptions and acceptance of dating violence.  Limitations of the present study and implications for future research are discussed.

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