Controlling behaviors in couple relationships in the digital ageacceptability of gender violence, sexism, and myths about romantic love

  1. M. Dolores Sánchez-Hernández 1
  2. M. Carmen Herrera-Enríquez
  3. Francisca Expósito
  1. 1 Universidad de Granada
    info

    Universidad de Granada

    Granada, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04njjy449

Journal:
Psychosocial Intervention

ISSN: 1132-0559

Year of publication: 2020

Volume: 29

Issue: 2

Pages: 67-81

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5093/PI2020A1 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Psychosocial Intervention

Abstract

Young people have incorporated information and communication technology (ICT) and its influence on socialization as a new instrument to exercise controlling behaviors in their relationships. The present research aims to analyse the influence of some variables that affect social perception of those controlling behaviors, such as the adopted role on the scene (i.e., protagonist vs. observer) and means of control that is used (i.e., face-to-face vs. WhatsApp) while considering the effect of attitudinal variables: acceptability of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW), ambivalent sexism, and myths about romantic love. Two studies were implemented: Study 1 included women (n = 224) and Study 2 included men (n = 120), all of them college students. The main results revealed that both women and men perceive controlling behaviors amongst other peer couples; however, few of them recognize suffering or the exercise of these behaviors within their relationships. In addition, data pointed out the adopted role on the scene and the ideological variables (ambivalent sexism, acceptability of IPVAW, and myths about romantic love) that influenced social perception of dating violence; however, there was no influence of means of control. This research contributes to the previous literature, evidencing that controlling behaviors through technological means are accepted and normalized among young people. Additionally, it shows novel data about young people's social perception of controlling behaviors in their relationships, depending on whether they adopt the role of observer or the role of protagonist in a violent situation.

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Funding information

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the R&D projects "New forms of gender violence: Risk and protective factors to the psychosocial wellbeing (PSI2017-84703-R)" and by a Grant from the FPU Program of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades given to the first author.

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