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Feeling controlled in marriage: A phenomenon specific to physically aggressive couples?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ehrensaft, MK; Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J; Heyman, RE; O'Leary, KD; Lawrence, E
Published in: Journal of Family Psychology
March 1, 1999

Spouses in maritally happy nonaggressive (H; n = 21), distressed nonaggressive (DNA; n = 16), and distressed aggressive (DA; n = 20) marriages were interviewed about their perceptions of their spouse as controlling. Four areas of spousal control were assesed: involvement in decision making, relationships with family and friends, freedom to plan activities independently, and sense of competence and self-respect. Overall, as expected, spouses in happy marriages reported feeling less controlled than spouses in the 2 distressed groups. Few gender differences were obtained, with the exception that wives in aggressive marriages were more likely to report that their husbands controlled their sense of competence and self-respect. Differences between the DA and DNA groups depended on the specific area of control. Wives in the aggressive couples were significantly more likely than their husbands to state that their spouse's aggression was an attempt to control them.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Family Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0893-3200

Publication Date

March 1, 1999

Volume

13

Issue

1

Start / End Page

20 / 32

Related Subject Headings

  • Family Studies
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Ehrensaft, M. K., Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Heyman, R. E., O’Leary, K. D., & Lawrence, E. (1999). Feeling controlled in marriage: A phenomenon specific to physically aggressive couples? Journal of Family Psychology, 13(1), 20–32. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.13.1.20
Ehrensaft, M. K., J. Langhinrichsen-Rohling, R. E. Heyman, K. D. O’Leary, and E. Lawrence. “Feeling controlled in marriage: A phenomenon specific to physically aggressive couples?Journal of Family Psychology 13, no. 1 (March 1, 1999): 20–32. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.13.1.20.
Ehrensaft MK, Langhinrichsen-Rohling J, Heyman RE, O’Leary KD, Lawrence E. Feeling controlled in marriage: A phenomenon specific to physically aggressive couples? Journal of Family Psychology. 1999 Mar 1;13(1):20–32.
Ehrensaft, M. K., et al. “Feeling controlled in marriage: A phenomenon specific to physically aggressive couples?Journal of Family Psychology, vol. 13, no. 1, Mar. 1999, pp. 20–32. Scopus, doi:10.1037/0893-3200.13.1.20.
Ehrensaft MK, Langhinrichsen-Rohling J, Heyman RE, O’Leary KD, Lawrence E. Feeling controlled in marriage: A phenomenon specific to physically aggressive couples? Journal of Family Psychology. 1999 Mar 1;13(1):20–32.

Published In

Journal of Family Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0893-3200

Publication Date

March 1, 1999

Volume

13

Issue

1

Start / End Page

20 / 32

Related Subject Headings

  • Family Studies
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology