Male honor and female fidelity: implicit cultural scripts that perpetuate domestic violence

J Pers Soc Psychol. 2003 May;84(5):997-1010. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.84.5.997.

Abstract

Two studies explored how domestic violence may be implicitly or explicitly sanctioned and reinforced in cultures where honor is a salient organizing theme. Three general predictions were supported: (a) female infidelity damages a man's reputation, particularly in honor cultures; (b) this reputation can be partially restored through the use of violence; and (c) women in honor cultures are expected to remain loyal in the face of jealousy-related violence. Study 1 involved participants from Brazil (an honor culture) and the United States responding to written vignettes involving infidelity and violence in response to infidelity. Study 2 involved southern Anglo, Latino, and northern Anglo participants witnessing a "live" incident of aggression against a woman (actually a confederate) and subsequently interacting with her.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brazil
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Culture*
  • Domestic Violence / ethnology*
  • Domestic Violence / psychology
  • Domestic Violence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Extramarital Relations*
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Students / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Virtues*