TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
women report perpetrating slightly more
physical violence than men. It is interesting
to note that most studies on teen dating
violence that have been conducted to date
have relied primarily on “act” scales.
the female had more power in the relationship. Overall, the study found that the
boys perceived that they had less power in
the relationship than the girls did. Interestingly, males involved in relationships
in which one or both partners reported
physical aggression had a perception of
less power than males in relationships
without physical aggression. Meanwhile,
the girls reported no perceived difference in power regardless of whether their
relationships included
physical aggression.
Another group of experts holds that
men generally perpetrate serious intimate
partner violence against women. They contend that men in patriarchal societies use
violence to exert and maintain power and
control over women. These experts also
maintain that “act” scales do not accurately reflect the nature of violence in
intimate relationships because they do not
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consider the degree of injury
inflicted, coercive and controlling behaviors, the fear
induced, or the context in
which the acts occurred.
Studies using “act” scales,
they contend, lack information on power and control
and emphasize the more
common
and
relatively
minor forms of aggression
rather than more severe,
relatively rare forms of
violence in dating and intimate partner relationships.
Instead, supporters of this perspective use
data on injuries and in-depth interviews
with victims and perpetrators.
We believe, however, that applying
either of these adult perspectives to adolescents is problematic. Although both
views of adult intimate partner violence
can help inform our understanding of teen
dating violence, it is important to consider
how adolescent romantic relationships
differ from adult romantic relationships in
several key areas.
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How Teen Dating Violence
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One difference between adolescent and
adult relationships is the absence of elements traditionally associated with greater
male power in adult relationships. Adolescent girls are not typically dependent on
romantic partners for financial stability,
and they are less likely to have children to
provide for and protect.
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16
The study of seventh, ninth and 11th
graders in Toledo, for example, found that
a majority of the boys and girls who were
interviewed said they had a relatively
“equal say” in their romantic relationships.
In cases in which there was a power imbalance, they were more likely to say that
| Illinois Winter 2014 | abusemagazine.org
It is interesting to
note that adults who
perpetrate
violence
against family members
often see themselves as
powerless in their relationships. This dynamic
has yet to be adequately explored among
teen dating partners.
Lack of
Relationship
Experience
A second key factor
that distinguishes violence in adult relationships from violence in
adolescent relationships is the lack of experience teens have in negotiating romantic
relationships. Inexperience in communicating and relating to a romantic partner
may lead to the use of poor coping strategies, including verbal and physical aggression. A teen who has difficulty expressing
himself or herself may turn to aggressive
behaviors (sometimes in play) to show
affection, frustration or jealousy. A recent
study in which boys and girls participated
in focus groups on dating found that physical aggression sometimes stemmed from
an inability to communicate feelings and a
lack of constructive ways to deal with frustration.
As adolescents develop into young
adults, they become more realistic and
less idealistic about romantic relationships.
They have a greater capacity for closeness
and intimacy. Holding idealistic beliefs
about romantic relationships can lead to
disi llusionment and ineffective coping
mechanisms when conflict emerges. It also
seems reasonable to expect that physical
aggression may be more common when
adolescents have not fully developed their
capacity for intimacy, including their ability
to communicate.