Violence begets violence: Addressing the dual nature of partner violence in adolescent and young adult relationships

There has been a substantial increase in the number of studies that examine bidirectional violence toward partner (PV) in either adolescence or adulthood, or assess both partner’s PV perpetration and victimization, compared with only PV perpetration by boys or men as in earlier years of the field. This reflects changing views on the development of PV, such that both girls and boys are considered to play an active role in its emergence. In this chapter, we review theoretical approaches to PV and the evidence regarding the prevalence of bidirectional PV for adolescent and young adult couples. The development, escalation, severity, and outcomes of such PV are considered, as well as prevention implications, conclusions, and future directions. The focus of the chapter is mainly on physical PV, which has been the predominant focus of research studies on PV in adolescence but also includes discussion of psychological and sexual PV.