Abstract

Recently, dating violence has emerged as a serious social problem, but there is not enough research on controlling behavior among the subtypes of dating violence. Thise study explored the relationship between psychological entitlement and controlling behavior, and the mediation effect of social dominance orientation and social comparison orientation. Furthermore, the study examined if the mediation effect of social dominance orientation between psychological entitlement and controlling behavior differed by gender. As a result, the higher the level of psychological entitlement, the stronger the level of social dominance orientation, social comparison orientation, and the controlling behavior. In addition, the stronger the level of social dominance orientation and social comparison orientation, the more frequently was the occurance of the controlling behavior committed. The level of social dominance orientation mediated the relationship between psychological entitlement and controlling behavior. The level of ability comparison orientation mediated the relationship between psychological entitlement and controlling behavior. The mediation effect of social dominance orientation between psychological entitlement and controlling behavior was moderated by gender. In other words, the mediation effect of social dominance orientation between psychological entitlement and controlling behavior was significant for the male, but not for the female. The limitations of the study and suggestions for further research were discussed.