Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Tamara Del Vecchio

Second Advisor

Robin L. Wellington

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent, so much so that it has been described as a global public health crisis. Therefore, it is important to elucidate what conditions increase risk for IPV to better understand its etiology. Research emphasizing dyadic and self-regulatory processes may shed light on what differentiates those who perpetrate IPV. Specifically, both emotional flooding and executive functioning (EF) deficits have been implicated with IPV, but it is unclear how these variables may interact in predicting dating aggression. The current study explored how emotional flooding may differentially amplify risk for IPV under varying levels of executive functioning (comprised of inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory). A total of 105 participants completed task measures of EF and self-report questionnaires on flooding, physical, and psychological aggression. Results found that flooding was significantly associated with psychological, but not physical aggression. EF was not associated with physical or psychological aggression. Moderation analyses were nonsignificant, and implications of null findings are discussed.

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