Abstract
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP STYLES AND AGGRESSION
Aim: The main aim of the study was to determine the relationships between interpersonal relationship styles and aggression levels. In addition, the study intended to evaluate interpersonal relationship styles and aggression in terms of gender and status of exposure to domestic violence.
Method: The research sample consisted of 430 participants attending various faculties of Ondokuz Mayıs University in the 2013-2014 academic year. The Personal Information Collection Form, The Interpersonal Relationship Scale, and The Aggression Scale were administered to the participants. The independent groups t-test, the chi-square test, the Pearson product-moment correlation test, and the hierarchical regression analysis were employed for analyzing the research data.
Findings: The research findings generally indicated that there was a negative relationship between nutritive relationship style and aggression; there was a positive relationship between inhibiting/poisonous relationship style and aggression; and such relationship styles predicted aggression significantly. In addition, the women’s score averages in nutritive relationship style were higher than those of the men; and their score averages in inhibiting relationship style were lower than those of the men. On the other hand, the men had higher aggression levels in comparison to the women. The score averages of the participants exposed to domestic violence in inhibiting relationship style were higher than those of the participants not exposed to domestic violence; and their score averages in nutritive relationship style were lower than those of the participants not exposed to domestic violence. Likewise, the participants experiencing domestic violence had higher aggression score averages in comparison to those who did not undergo domestic violence.
Result: Interpersonal relationship styles, which are acquired in the social environment, affect individuals’ social relations positive or negatively. While nutritive relationship style contributes to constructive, empathetic, and understanding-based social relations, inhibiting relationship style may lead to destructive or aggressive behaviors. The research findings reveal the importance of adoption of positive relationship styles by individuals as of early ages and their avoidance of negative interpersonal relationship styles.
Keywords
Interpersonal relationship styles, aggression, communication and empathy.