Clinical Psychology 9 (2016), 1, 137-137


Poster display

Sexual Coercion in Intimate Relationship: Testing Evolutionary Hypothesis in a Sample of Italian Men


V. Verrastro - University of Cassino and the Southern Lazio- Department of Humanities, Social and Health, Cassino, Italy
L. Fontanesi - University of Rome La Sapienza- Department of Development Processes and Socialization, Rome, Italy
V. Saladino - Institute For The Study of Psychotherapies, Rome, Italy
P. Diotaiuti - University of Cassino and the Southern Lazio- Department of Humanities, Social and Health, Cassino, Italy
F. Petruccelli - University of Cassino and the Southern Lazio- Department of Humanities, Social And Health, Cassino, Italy

https://doi.org/10.21465/2016-KP-P-0009

Fulltext (english, pages 137-137).pdf


Abstracts
Objective: The present research aims to testing the hypothesis suggesting that, according to evolutionary theory, sexual coercion and psychological violence in intimate relationship may be strongly related with male jealousy. We also suggest that sexual coercion could be related to anxious/avoidant attachment style and dissatisfaction. Design and Method: 700 males (18-65, M=32.01 SD= 10.58), in a relationship for at least 1 year, filled out questionnaires about socio-demographic and relationship information, a.e. jealousy, and satisfaction. Sexual Coercion in Intimate Relationship (SCIRS, Goetz and Shackelford, 2009) and CaMir (Pierrehumbert et al., 1996) to assess attachment styles, were administered too. Results: Our results confirmed the hypothesis: higher scores in the SCIRS scale are correlated with jealousy (r= .311 p<.01), and satisfaction (r=-.267 p<.01). Participants with anxious and avoidant attachment style are more likely to have higher scores in the SCIRS questionnaire. Moreover, younger males (< 30 years old) show higher scores in the SCIRS total score (F=10.42, p<.01), and in the three subscales, Resource Manipulation/Violence (F=9.95, p<.01), Commitment Manipulation (F=10.30, p<.01) and Defection Threat (F=7.67, p<.05), than older participants, according to the evolutionary hypothesis. Conclusions: Sexual coercion could include physical force, in intimate relationship also may include emotional and resource manipulation. Our results have confirmed the hypothesis suggesting that those behaviours are related to jealousy, satisfaction, and anxious/avoidant attachment styles. We believe that these findings could be helpful to create ad hoc programs to prevent intimate violence and abuse.


© Naklada Slap, with you since 1985. All rights reserved.
Kontakt: Head office

NAKLADA SLAP d.o.o.
Dr. Franje Tuđmana 33, 10450 Jastrebarsko

+ 385 (0)1 6281 774
nslap@nakladaslap.com
Branch office

NAKLADA SLAP
Centar za edukacije i istraživanja
Miramarska cesta 105, 10000 Zagreb
+ 385 (0)1 6313 044
zagreb@nakladaslap.com