Journal of Language and Social Psychology 25(4) December 2006 : 406-422

This paper discusses research that investigated intimate partner violence and patterns of communication. It compares the conversational behaviour of men and women with and without a history of intimate partner violence during low-conflict interactions with a male and female researcher. The researchers were trained to use a language style stereotypical of their gender and six gender-neutral, low-conflict topics were selected for discussion. These formed gender-preferential speech styles. All conversations between the researchers and participants were transcribed and coded. Accommodation behaviour was measured by examining participants' speech behaviour in response to the researcher. The participants consisted of 81 males and 79 females recruited from three separate samples: 36 incarcerated participants, 62 university students, and 62 individuals from the general population. The participants' use of, and accommodation towards facilitative and non-facilitative language features as a function of their abuse history, was examined. It was found that fewer facilitative and polite language features were used by perpetrators and victims of intimate partner violence. The use of non-facilitative language features was more likely among males with a history of intimate partner violence. Perpetrators of psychological abuse were more likely to accommodate towards non-facilitative language features and less likely to accommodate towards a facilitative style. Participants modified their speech towards the manipulated styles in all other instances. Recommendations are made for intimate partner violence prevention initiatives.

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