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influence of adolescent attachment styles on the perception of verbal aggression
There has been minimal research investigating the negative effects that parental or parental figure verbal aggression has on adolescents and young adults. The general purpose of this study was to look at the influence of parental verbal aggression on adolescents' perceptions of the interaction, as being influenced by current level of attachment. It is possible that an adolescent's current attachment style can influence the perception and interpretation of the verbally aggressive interaction. As the environment helps create different attachment styles, it was important to then investigate how attachment style influences the perceptions of verbal aggression. The concern was that adolescents who have experienced verbal abuse in the past that subsequently developed an insecure attachment style would perceive verbally aggressive interactions as being more violent and express an increase in fear and anxiety. The proposed general hypothesis was that adolescents with secure attachment styles will perceive parental verbal aggression as less threatening and responding with less anxiety, while adolescents with insecure attachment styles will perceive parental verbal aggression as more threatening and respond with increased anxiety, fear, or avoidance. The results of the first linear regression suggested that there was minimal evidence to support the first hypothesis that participants with different degrees of attachment styles perceived verbal aggression as more threatening or violent. Results of the second linear regression partially supported the second hypothesis that participants would rate the Violent Language version of the Verbal Aggression videos as being more hostile and threatening than the Violent Metaphor or No Violent Language videos. This research attempted to bring to light the different perceptions that adolescents have of the communication processes, particularly of verbal aggression between parents, depending on various levels of attachment.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-127).