Attachment and violence in the families of origin of domestically violent men

Abstract

["This study sought to expand the predictive power of the intergenerational transmission model of spousal family violence by including variables derived from attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1980) with those derived from social learning theory (Bandura, 1969, 1977, 1986). Social learning theory has been the major theoretical underpinning to the study of how the enactment of family violence in contemporary relationships is influenced by violence learned in the family of origin. With the addition of variables from attachment theory (measures of separation, loss, and erratic caregiving) to those specified by social learning theory (the observation or experience of parental violence) a wider, but conceptually integrated, framework for model development was proposed. Seventy-four men were interviewed during intake at a family violence treatment program in Cleveland, Ohio. Current levels of spousal family violence and violence in their families of origin were measured using the Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979). Early life disruptions of attachment were measured by reports of concrete life events (e.g. death of a parent). Five hypotheses were tested that addressed the relationship between early life experiences (separation, loss, erratic caregiving, child abuse, parental spousal violence) and degree of severity of violence in current intimate relationships. A series of interlocking multiple regression analyses produced several models which demonstrated significant increases in power in predicting current violence when attachment variables were included. The strongest, most parsimonious model included parental physical abuse of the respondent, an aggregate measure of separation and loss events, and paternal substance abuse. Findings supported the use of a multi-theoretical approach in investigating the intergenerational transmission of family violence."]