Deeper Reasons Women Selected for Initiating Aggression
from Fiebert, Martin S. and Gonzalez, Denise M., "College Women who Initiate Assaults on their Male Partners and the Reasons offered for Such Behavior
Psychological Reports, 1997, 80, 583-90, Table 3. © Psychological Reports, 1997
Item # Deeper Reason: Item % n
11 Other 65% 153
10 I believe that men can readily protect themselves so I don't worry when I become physically aggressive. 24% 56
2 I have found that most men have been trained not to hit a woman, and therefore I am not fearful of retaliation from my partner. 19% 45
8 I believe if women truly are equal to men then women should be able to physically express anger at men. 13% 31
9 I feel personally empowered when I behave aggressively against my partner. 12% 29
7 I learned when growing up that I could be physically aggressive toward my brother and he would not fight back. 10% 24
5 I sometimes find when I express my anger physically I become turned on sexually. 8% 19
6 My mother would, at times, be physically aggressive to my father or my stepfather. 8% 18
4 I believe it is important and healthy to physically express anger particularly in a personal relationship. 6% 15
1 I believe that women are in charge in a domestic situation and have the right to strike their partners if they break the rules. 6% 14
3 I have seen and admired women in the movies, and on TV, who strike their partners. 3% 8
