Intergenerational transmission of violence and psychological aggression against wives

Previous research is not clear on how violence in the family of origin translates into violence and aggression later in life. This paper develops and estimates an empirical model in which Gottfredson and Hirschi's concept of self-control is specified to mediate the relationship between violence in the family of origin and conjugal psychological aggression. Data generated by the 1975 National Family Violence Survey were used for the study. Results suggest that fathers' violence is more likely to exert the aggression amplification effect.