Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Dating violence is often thought of as a precursor for spousal abuse and that understanding is beneficial. However, according to Makepeace (1981), all the reasons that married individuals give for remaining in violent relationships do not apply to courtship relationships, thus inspiring the question as to why do individuals in dating relationships remain in abusive relationships. Emotional commitment has been a prominent response and has been found to play a powerful role in the individual's acceptance of violence and the outcome of the relationship (Arriaga, 2002). For this reason, it is believed that individuals in committed relationships will be more accepting of violence in a relationship than those who are not in committed relationships. This study is particularly applicable to college students because the potential impact of these findings could provide greater prevention of violence as well as increased knowledge about domestic violence. Data collection was done by means of distributing 300 group-administered surveys to students in classes at the University of Central Florida (UCF) main campus. UCF Victim Services information was given as a resource on the consent form to protect human subjects, that is, those who were 18 years or older. Modified versions of established scales were used to add to the reliability of the measures. Findings indicated that as the level of commitment increases, the acceptability of violence decreases.

Introduction

Although there is a developing body of literature in the area of domestic violence, there remains a void in research focused on premarital violence. Until the pioneering research of Makepeace (1981), the prevalence of violence in dating relationships was relatively unknown. Increased interest in this gap occurred because of the obvious benefits such research could provide to the topic of relationship-oriented violence. According to Makepeace (1981), all the reasons that married individuals give for remaining in violent relationships do not always apply to courtship relationships, thus inspiring the question, "Why do individuals in dating relationships remain in abusive relationships?" Emotional commitment has been a prominent response to this question (Arriaga, 2002; Billingham, 1987; Carlson, 1999; Mills & Malley-Morrison, 1998; Strube & Barbour, 1983). In Sternberg's (1988) triangular theory of love, he suggests that love is comprised of three components: (a) intimacy (i.e., mutual understanding and high regard), (b) passion (i.e., physical attraction, drive for affiliation), and (c) commitment (i.e., decision to initiate and maintain the relationship). When all three aspects are present and in balanced proportion, the result is what Sternberg referred to as consummate love. The existing research literature finds that emotional commitment plays a very powerful role in the acceptance of the violence as well as the outcome of the relationship (Arriaga, 2002). The current study will address the issue of the relationship between emotional commitment and attitudes toward violence in courtship relationships, specifically romantic relationships, in students at the University of Central Florida.

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