Women's attributions for hypothetical dating violence: Effects of partner alcohol use and violence severity

We compared women's attributions for dating violence as a function of perpetrator alcohol use and violence severity. Female undergraduates in dating relationships (N=144) reported attributions for hypothetical scenarios of verbal aggression, moderate violence, and severe violence. In the partner alcohol-use condition, partners were described as intoxicated; in the control condition, the scenarios were provided without descriptions of intoxication. Severity of violence, but not partner alcohol use, was associated with causal attributions for violence. In contrast, women's responsibility attributions differed as a function of a Partner Alcohol Use x Violence Severity interaction. Women in the alcohol-use condition held partners less responsible for severe violence than did women in the control condition. Women in the partner alcohol-use condition also reported fewer intentions to take legal action in response to severe violence. Implications for dating violence prevention programs and future research are discussed.