Study reveals women can be more controlling in relationships

A new study has called women “intimate terrorists” and claims that women are usually the most responsible parties for aggression in the majority of heterosexual relationships.

A study from the University of Cumbria questioned over 1,104 young men and women about physical aggression controlling behaviour involving their partners and friends.

Dr. Elizabeth Bates who created the study said that just as many women as men could be classed with abusive behaviour in their relationship.

“This study found that women demonstrated a desire to control their partners and were more likely to use physical aggression than men. This suggests that IPV may not be motivated by patriarchal values and needs to be studied within the context of other forms of aggression, which has potential implications for interventions.”

Dr. Bates said she deliberately focused the studies on late teens and early twenties because statistically they were most likely to be victims of aggression.