In Mexico, the conformation and organization of sentimental couples has been changing significantly over the past three decades. Under this premise, this research focuses on the analysis of how the conflict within a couple (CC) is understood and faced. The investigation pursue the following objectives: (1) to provide, empirically, grounded theoretical elements of the CC, and (2) to evaluate the relationship of violence stereotypes, according on gender and type of couple (heterosexual, gay, lesbian), with the social perception of violence within a CC. Our methodological design combines different types of strategies related to three modes and degrees of current knowledge about the phenomenon being studied. Firstly, based on previous gender studies on stereotypes of violence, where the woman is conceived as a victim of the violent man, we used the hypothetical deductive method to confirm the presence of such stereotypes and investigate its degree of attachment in Queretaro, Mexico. In this case, two quantitative instruments were applied: A questionnaire based on paper and pencil, consisting of closed sets of items to measure explicit attitudes and perceptions; and three IAT (Implicit Association Tests), using computers with the appropriated software to measure implicit attitudes. Secondly, departing on the general knowledge of conflict, we procured the clarification about what people meant by conflict and violence in the couple, using textual information. This included a number of open questions in the survey questionnaire. Finally, to the existing limited empirical information about how Mexican couples cope with the conflict and its relationship with stereotypes of violence, according to gender and the type of couple, we conducted a qualitative approach (inductive - deductive) of this issue, by applying the techniques of interviewing and fotointervention. This study included only Mexican people, mostly university students, over 18 years old, with some experience in couple relationship and living in urban areas of the Mexican state of Queretaro. A total of 232 answered questionnaires with closed items, 304 responded to the IAT, 173 completed the questionnaire with open items, 43 were interviewed, and 18 were involved in fotointervention sessions. Then, the quantitative data obtained was analyzed statistically with SPSS 12.0. As for the study of qualitative information, it was applied the Grounded Theory protocol. The findings provide quantitative evidence about the cultural roots of the violence stereotypes according to gender and the type of couple in the group investigated. They also provide information on common-sense representations concerning conflict, conflict in the couple (and relations of power and control strategies within), and violence. Moreover, it provides qualitative evidence about the relationship of these stereotypical perceptions and the expectatives about the differences between the male and female ways of dealing with the couple conflict. Also, it gives evidence about the potential social effects of violence stereotypes, in terms of gender and type of couple. The empirical knowledge of the degree of socio-cultural rooting of these attitudes in the Mexican society facilitates the comprehension about how the conflict, in the couple's relationship, is understood. Under this cultural perspective, it is more credible the information consistent with the belief in the model male-violent and female-peaceful, than the one that meets the contrary model (male-peaceful and female-violent). This has implications, at least, of practical, social and political order, in the sense of making visible the "gender violence" of men to women, and more invisible the violence in intimate relationships that exists between lesbians, gays or from women to men.
| Date of Award | 23 Jun 2010 |
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| Original language | Undefined/Unknown |
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| Supervisor | Leonor M. Espinosa (Director) |
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