The dark side of courtship

Description:

"Blending qualitative interviews with current research findings, this book explores the "dark side" of courtship - the negative interactions that take place between dating and courting partners, most notably physical aggression and sexual exploitation. It emphasizes the importance of understanding how power dynamics, verbal aggression, interaction patterns, issues of control, and relationship dynamics are integrally tied to physical and sexual aggression. The authors also examine the contextual factors that encourage the use of physical and sexual aggression in romantic relationships and allow them to continue without necessarily bringing about the demise of the relationship. These contextual factors include patriarchal structures, the power of romance, and patterns of gender socialization." "Personal anecdotes from interviews conducted by the authors are interwoven with the interpersonal and contextual framework, as well as the extant literature on physical and sexual aggression during courtship. It is unique in its emphasis on interpersonal dynamics, as the vast majority of the literature on courtship aggression has focused on the role of personality and other intra-individual factors."--Jacket.

subjects: Courtship,  Dating violence,  Gender Studies,  Sex & sexuality,  Violence in Society,  Social Science,  Psychology,  Psychology Of Sexuality,  Violence (Sociological Aspects),  Interpersonal Relations,  Social Psychology,  Psychology & Psychiatry / Social Psychology,  Human Sexuality,  Family & relationships,  Mental Health