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Intergenerational Transmission of Family Aggression

NCJ Number
125477
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 135-152
Author(s)
C Cappell; R B Heiner
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper analyzes the coexistence of aggressive relations reported by 888 intact child-rearing families using the national Survey of Physical Violence in American Families.
Abstract
The existence of spousal violence in the family of origin increased the likelihood that the respondent, whether husband or wife, was the target of aggression from his or her spouse. Aggression between parent and child in female respondents' families of origin increased the likelihood that females behaved aggressively toward their children. Among these families, no pervasive pattern of sex-specific learned perpetration was found. Instead, vulnerability to aggression was transmitted more than the learned role of perpetrator. The analysis differs from earlier studies in that all of the patterns of family aggression are analyzed simultaneously, thereby taking into account current family interactions as well as historical ones. 26 references, 4 tables. (Publisher abstract)