The Dominance Scale: Preliminary Psychometric Properties

Abstract

Dominance may be the most widely mentioned risk factor for physical assaults on an intimate partner, but empirical studies have found mixed results. A new measure, the Dominance Scale, operationalizes a reconceptualization that examines three different forms of dominance: Authority, Restrictiveness, and Disparagement. Preliminary psychometric characteristics demonstrated good distributions and internal consistency in a sample of 131 undergraduates. In a comparison of Dominance Scale scores with related constructs of interest, Authority was found to be most closely related to a measure of decision-making power and to social desirability. Of the three, Restrictiveness appears to be most closely associated with partner violence, including psychological aggression, physical assault, and injury. Differences among forms of dominance may partially explain the mixed results of past research. Further validation of the Dominance Scale is planned.