Out of Control: Identifying the Role of Self-Control Strength in Family Violence

First Published August 12, 2015 Research Article

Authors

1
 
Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University Amsterdam
by this author
, 1
 
Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University Amsterdam
by this author
, 2
 
Department of Psychology, Florida State University
by this author
,
1
 
Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University Amsterdam
by this author
, 3
 
Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam
by this author
, 4
 
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
by this author
...
First Published Online: August 12, 2015

Family violence is common and brings tremendous costs to individuals, relationships, and society. Victims are vulnerable to negative outcomes across a host of dimensions, including cognitive performance, impulse control, emotion regulation, and physical health. Links between family violence and various problems have been established, yet the specific processes underlying these associations are poorly understood, resulting in the stunted development of effective interventions. This article addresses two key questions: How and why does family violence cause these myriad problems? The self-control strength model of family violence provides novel answers. The model integrates components of existing theories, extending them by pinpointing self-control strength as an explanatory and predictive factor, and can serve as a framework for interventions.

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