Justification of Aggression in Young Reoffenders

Abstract

Abstract:The degree of acceptance of various forms of aggression in different situations was analyzed by administering self-report questionnaires. Previous studies on justification of interpersonal aggression, in 'normal' adult populations, in quite different cultures, have shown overall similar, but not identical, features. A similar trend of justification, but at a higher level, was expected in special 'deviant' populations, such as prisoners and psychiatric patients. The present study focuses on the way in which young re-offenders serving in reformatories justify different types of interpersonal aggression in a variety of settings. As a control population, a sample of students of similar age living in the same area was used. Results: the young delinquent population justified aggression at a higher level than 'normal' teenagers of similar age in all situations, except 'when communication breaks down'. Specifically their justification of physical aggression as well as of threatening was also higher, whereas no significant differences were found related to passive aggression (hindering) or verbal emotional acts (shouting, being furious, or showing rage). In certain situations a rather striking prevalence among girls was observed. In conclusion, young delinquents showed a higher justification of aggression, notably of its most drastic physical forms, in virtually all situations.

The relation of sensitivity to provocation and frustration to direct aggression: the mediating role of beliefs about aggression / La relación entre la sensibilidad a la provocación y a la frustración y la agresión directa: el papel mediador de las creencias sobre la agresión

“…One may attribute this difference to the difference in social and personal acceptability of these two types of aggression. Studies of approval of aggression have consistently shown that more moderate forms such as ‘being ironic’ or ‘shouting angrily’ are considered more acceptable than extreme forms such as ‘hitting’ or ‘killing’ (Dominiak‐Kochanek, Konopka, Rutkowska, Frączek, & Ramirez, 2016; Millana & Ramirez, 2011). Verbal aggression seems to be more frequent and more socially accepted than physical aggression, and one would therefore expect it to be determined by a wide range of processes and contextual or situational factors; because physical aggression is less socially and culturally acceptable, factors and mechanisms regulating its manifestation must be more specific than in cases of verbal aggression, and more strictly related to psychological constructs.…”

Justification of Emotional and Instrumental Aggression in Hong Kong and Spanish University Students

“…Overt expressions of anger are clearly not something observed very often in normal university students; they score low on questionnaires dealing with the frequency of overt aggression and angry and aggressive dispositions. Future studies need to be replicated in other educational levels, professional backgrounds, and ages, because subpopulations defined in terms other than geography may also have different codes for the acceptance of aggression [52,53]. For instance, presumably consciousness objectors would show a much lower justification of violence than policemen or prisoners.…”

Direct and indirect effects of parenting practices on socio‐moral approval of aggression in Polish young adults. Do all practices matter?

“…Previous research was primarily exploratory in nature focusing on the similarities and differences in the approval of aggression in people from different countries (Frączek, ; Frączek, Ramirez, & Torchalska, ; Ramirez, ; Ramirez, Andreu, Fujihara, Musazadeh, & Saini, ); in women and men (Dominiak‐Kochanek, Frączek, & Konopka, ; Frączek & Rutkowska, ); in pacifists and candidates for military service (Lagerspetz, Björkqvist, Björkqvist, & Lundman, ); in juvenile delinquents and normative samples (Millana & Ramirez, ) and in students of different fields of study (Farnicka & Liberska, ). Results showed cross‐national and geo‐cultural similarities in the approval of aggressive acts, with minor forms such as “being ironic” or “shouting angrily” mostly accepted; and extreme forms such as “torturing” or “killing” mostly disapproved of across countries and different cultural settings.…”

“…Many studies have shown the negative behavioural consequences of holding normative beliefs legitimising aggression and expressing higher levels of approval of aggression (Guerra et al, ; Millana & Ramirez, ). Unfortunately, only a few studies have been carried out concentrating on early socialisation factors that determine the endorsement of aggressive norms.…”

“…Similarly, Lagerspetz showed that self‐proclaimed pacifists disapproved of all forms of aggression, even relatively mild forms such as “gossiping” or “ironizing.” On the other hand, candidates for military service revealed higher acceptability of interpersonal aggression compared to pacifists (Lagerspetz et al, ). Millana and Ramirez () found that juvenile delinquents exhibited to a greater extent the acceptability of physical aggression and “threatening,” in comparison to a normative sample of university students, but they scored similarly on the approval of verbal emotional acts (e.g. “shouting”).…”