Perceptions of Verbal Aggression in Romantic Relationships: The Role of Family History and Motivational Systems

This study examined the perceived acceptability of verbally aggressive behavior in adult romantic relationships as a function of both exposure to familial verbal aggression in childhood and the strength of peoples' motivational systems. Previous research suggests that a history of familial verbal aggression in childhood desensitizes an individual's psychological, behavioral, and physiological responses in adulthood to be more tolerant of their...