Relationships with perpetrators of violence and aggression

What is it about?

Repeated exposure to violence increases the likelihood that adolescents see violence as an effective problem-solving strategy and will engage in aggressive behavior. This paper examines whether adolescents' relationships to perpetrators of violence plays a role in how they develop their beliefs about aggression and engage in aggressive behavior. We found that experiencing violence in closer, family relationships may be most important in acquiring harmful beliefs about aggression.

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Why is it important?

Our findings show that effective intervention and prevention programs in these communities should include efforts to support families in order to eradicate violence in the home and elsewhere. The findings are especially important as they highlight the experiences of African American adolescents living in high-violence, low-income, urban neighborhoods, who are historically underrepresented in research.