A study of 254 high school students examined the use of aggressive behaviors in adolescent romantic
relationships, the endorsement
of
attitudes that promote such behaviors, and the extent to which attachment and emotional style were related to the behaviors and attitudes. In general, aggressive behaviors and attitudes were not common. Girls were somewhat more likely to report being the perpetrator of physical aggression and boys somewhat more likely to endorse the acceptance of aggression and dysfunctional sexual attitudes. For girls, a less secure relationship with best friends and lower levels of shame and guilt were related to the use of aggression in romantic
relationships and endorsing less healthy attitudes about these relationships. For boys, externalizing responsibility for harm to others was related to using physical aggression in romantic relationships and lower levels of guilt and shame were related to the justification of sexual aggression. The article suggests that intervention programs be grounded in the nature of adolescent relationships, where aggression is more often mutual between partners, and reviews the potential benefit of targeting emotional styles.