Rejection sensitivity and male violence in romantic relationships

Rejection sensitivity is the disposition to anxiously expect, readily perce ive, and intensely react to rejection by significant others. A model of the role of this disposition in male violence toward romantic partners is prop osed. Specifically, it is proposed that rejection sensitivity is a vulnerab ility factor for two distinct maladaptive styles of coping with intimate re lationships. Rejection-sensitive men may attempt to prevent anticipated rej ection by reducing their investment in intimate relationships. Alternativel y they may become highly invested in intimate relationships in search of an unconditionally supportive partner. Their low threshold for perceiving and overreacting to rejection. however. heightens their risk of responding agg ressively to their partners' negative or ambiguous behavior. Cross-sectiona l data from 217 male college students supported predictions derived from th e model. Among college men who reported relatively high investment in roman tic relationships, anxious expectations of rejection predicted dating viole nce. Among mel who reported relatively low investment in romantic relations hips, anxious expectations of rejection predicted reduced involvement in di scretionary close relationships with friends and romantic partners and, mor e generally increased distress in and avoidance of social situations.