| Using a synthesized model, three socializing agents (parents, peers, and mass media characters) were investigated to determine the influence that each had in regard to instilling beliefs about and behavioral tendencies for antisocial communication. Thus, based on the theoretical model, three studies were conducted to test predictions regarding antisocial communication. Studies 1 and 2 examined how individuals learn to use antisocial communication, and Study 3 examined why antisocial communication is used in romantic relationships.; As predicted in Study 1, parents (R2 = .33) were found to have the strongest relationship to an individual's general social domain of knowledge, while peers (R 2 = .40) were found to have the strongest relationship to specific domains of knowledge regarding antisocial communication. In Study 2, as predicted, peers had a large effect (R 2 = .40--.47), mass media characters held a moderate effect ( R2 = .17--.20), and opposite to prediction, parents held a large effect (R2 = .29--.34), on beliefs about antisocial communication.; In Study 3, a multifactorial design was used to examine the effect of the three social agents and two contextual factors (social power, relationship duration) on an individual's actual use of antisocial communication across two within-subjects contexts (emotional, physical). A main effect was detected for relationship duration across contexts (Eta2 = .01--.03), and for each social agent within the physical context (peers: Eta2 = .05; parents: Eta2 = .04; media characters: Eta2 = .02).; Four conclusions were drawn from these studies: (1) social agents have differential socializing effects on instilling beliefs about antisocial communication, (2) relationships that are more established are likely to involve greater levels of antisocial communication than new relationships, (3) topics that are less socially normed (e.g., seeking an emotional disclosure) are likely to involve greater levels of antisocial communication than topics that are more socially normed (e.g., seeking physical intimacy), and (4) models explaining the use of antisocial behavior are likely to require a synthesis of theoretical constructs that include cognitive processes, individual dispositions, and situational factors. The implications of the current findings for intervention/prevention efforts and for future research are discussed. |
