The effect of social and situational factors on the intended response to aggression among adolescents

J Soc Psychol. 2010 Jan-Feb;150(1):57-76. doi: 10.1080/00224540903232290.

Abstract

In this study, I explored intended response to aggression among adolescents. I drew hypotheses from social identity theory, cost/benefit considerations, and social information processing model. I asked 217 Jewish and Muslim male adolescents in this study to assess their intended use of aggression in 12 hypothetical conflict situations (vignettes), in which I manipulated the opponent's religion, gender, acquaintance, and severity of aggression. I mainly found that male adolescents respond to aggression by same-religion opponents more moderately than to cross-religion aggression; their response is more moderate to cross-gender aggression than to same-gender aggression; response is more moderate to the aggression of familiar opponents than to that of unfamiliar ones; and response is less severe toward moderate than toward severe aggression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Conflict, Psychological
  • Female
  • Gender Identity*
  • Hostility
  • Humans
  • Intention*
  • Islam / psychology*
  • Israel
  • Jews / psychology*
  • Male
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Religion and Psychology*
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Environment*
  • Social Identification*
  • Social Perception
  • Socialization