The Intergenerational Transmission of Disciplinary Practices and Approaches to Conflict

The investigation of the intergenerational transfer of family violence has been largely limited to studies conducted in the United States, and has been plagued with methodological shortcomings. This study provides data on disciplinary practices and the intergenerational transfer of approaches to conflict from a non-western culture, the Zapotec of Oaxaca, Mexico. It deals with methodological concerns such as definitional ambiguities, inaccuracy of informant recall, and over-reliance on attitudinal and self-report measures. Furthermore, it discusses the relevance of the findings for reducing aggressive behavior within families and society. Three methods are employed to gather data relevant to the intergenerational transmission hypothesis: structured interviews, ethnographic observations and ethological observations. A comparison of two neighboring Zapotec communities shows one to be markedly more aggressive than the other in terms of fighting, wife beatings, assaults, and homicides. The levels of aggression...