Unbalanced dependency in intimate relationships: developmental pathways to affective vulnerability and risk of intimate partner violence

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global public-health concern in which dysregulated interpersonal dependence and poorly regulated aggressiveness play central roles. This dissertation integrates three studies to clarify developmental antecedents, measurement foundations, and mechanism-focused pathways linking dependency dysregulation to IPV risk. Study 1 examines two opposing yet symmetrical dependency profiles—Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) and Fear of Intimacy (FoI)—in relation to adult attachment, recalled parenting, shame, and paranoia. PAD is uniquely associated with fearful attachment, whereas FoI relates positively to dismissing attachment and negatively to secure attachment. Parental overcontrol was linked to PAD via shame, whereas parental indifference was linked to FoI via paranoia. These patterns delineate two pathways of dysregulated dependence with differing self- and other-representations. Study 2 is a systematic review of jealousy measures, evaluating reliability, validity, and practical utility across contexts. Most instruments show adequate psychometrics, but conceptual heterogeneity—spanning triggers, functions, and relational consequences—limits comparability and constrains identification of psychological mechanisms relevant to pathological jealousy and IPV risk. The review highlights the need for more integrative, theory-driven tools. Study 3 tested mechanism-based models linking PAD and FoI to internalized and externalized aggressiveness via jealousy and revenge. PAD was associated with both behavioral and cognitive jealousy, whereas FoI was associated with cognitive jealousy only. Both jealousy facets related to stronger revenge motives, which in turn were associated with higher internalized and externalized aggressiveness; behavioral jealousy also showed direct links to aggressiveness, highlighting jealousy-driven revenge as a proximal pathway from dependency dysregulation to aggressive outcomes. Across studies, findings converge on distinct developmental precursors of PAD and FoI, measurement gaps that hinder mechanism testing, and differentiated yet converging routes from dependency dysregulation to aggressiveness via jealousy and revenge. These results point to modifiable clinical targets—monitoring/controlling tendencies, suspicious rumination, and revenge motivation—and support tailored prevention strategies to mitigate relational vulnerability and reduce IPV risk.