Identifying Cycles of Aggression Among Iranian Couples

Ahmadi, Khodabakhsh; Samadzadeh, Mona; Kiamanesh, Alireza

Identifying Cycles of Aggression Among Iranian Couples

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

² Department of Psychology, Azad University of Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study endeavours to elucidate the cycle of aggression within Iranian couples. The research cohort comprises couples who have reported instances of physical aggression and sought assistance from counselling centres affiliated with the judiciary in the year 2020. Through semi-structured interviews, individuals experiencing recurrent physical aggression in their marital relationships were engaged. Interview sessions persisted until thematic saturation was achieved, culminating in a total of ten interviews. Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed the emergence of four principal stages characterizing the aggression cycles among couples: re-experiencing negative emotions, insistence on fulfilling personal desires, consolidation of power dynamics, and culmination in physical confrontations precipitating shifts in relational power dynamics. The findings of this investigation underscore the imperative of addressing salient factors including power dynamics, communication patterns, attachment styles, and problem-solving capabilities among couples grappling with aggression in their relationships.

Keywords