Cross-Cultural Differences in Physical Aggression Between Partners: A Social-Role Analysis
Abstract
In developed western nations, both sexes commit acts of physical aggression against their partners. Data from 16 nations showed that this pattern did not generalize to all nations. The magnitude and direction of the sex difference was highly correlated with national-level variations in gender empowerment and individualism-collectivism. As gender equality and individualism increased, the sex difference in partner violence moved in the direction of lesserfemale victimization and greater male victimization. A second analysis of 52 nations showed that 3 indexes of women%'s victimization were also inversely correlated with gender equality and individualism. Sexist attitudes and relative approval of wife beating were also associated with women%'s victimization rates, but general levels of violent crime were not. The findings are discussed in terms of a social role approach to variations in sex differences between cultures.
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The opposite pattern is seen for Aggressive behavior partners, indicating that the sex difference (i.e., men display higher levels of physical aggression toward their partners) is smaller in countries with higher living conditions, as reported in two studies in the old analyses.
“The opposite pattern is seen for Aggressive behavior partners, indicating that the sex difference (i.e., men display higher levels of physical aggression toward their partners) is smaller in countries with higher living conditions, as reported in two studies in the old analyses (Archer, 2006; Ebbeler et al., 2017).”
From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Archer, 2006
Men also display higher levels of Aggressive behavior partners (SMDs = 0.04-9.075).
“Men also display higher levels of Aggressive behavior partners (SMDs = 0.04–9.075; Archer, 2006; Ebbeler et al., 2017).”
From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Archer, 2006
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- Authors
- Archer, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Lancashire (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Archer, John
- ORCID
- Archer, John
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Review
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2006-05
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 133-153
- ISSN
- 1088-8683 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7957
- OpenAlex
- W2139699549
- Cited by
- 494
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 32
- FWCI
- 13.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CLOK (University of Central Lancashire) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- intimate partner violence, physical aggression, cross-cultural comparison, sex differences, gender equality, individualism-collectivism, social role theory, victimization of women, male victimization, sexist attitudes, wife beating, violent crime, cross-national comparison
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Power, Psychological, Sexual Behavior, Social Behavior, Spouse Abuse, Crime Victims
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