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When Women Are under the Influence

Does Drinking or Drug Use by Women Provoke Beatings by Men?

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Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Part of the book series: Recent Development in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 13))

Abstract

This chapter examines theoretical and empirical evidence for the existence of “intoxication-victimization” effects. Theories of victimization and theories of alcohol-induced aggression are examined for their relevance to the phenomenon of concern. The results of our examination of theory and research indicates theoretical support for an integrated theory of intoxication-victimization effects. However, we found that the temporal precedence of women’s drinking related to their victimizations has not been established by prior investigations. Supporting evidence for intoxication-victimization effects is strongest among studies of rape, homicide, and studies of alcoholic women. Despite the strength of alcohol’s association with wife assaults, intoxication’s centrality and temporal relationship to specific wife-assault episodes is highly variable. Our review indicates that women’s intoxication might be spuriously associated with victimization through its association with husband’s intoxication and via the indirect effects of victimization histories in the family of origin of both partners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, 03824

    Glenda Kaufman Kantor & Nancy Asdigian

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  1. Glenda Kaufman Kantor
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  2. Nancy Asdigian
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  1. New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

    Marc Galanter

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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Kantor, G.K., Asdigian, N. (2002). When Women Are under the Influence. In: Galanter, M., et al. Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Development in Alcoholism, vol 13. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47141-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47141-8_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-45358-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47141-4

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