Social Information Processing Mechanisms and Victimization

Abstract

The aim of the current literature review, which is based on 64 empirical studies, was to assess to what extent mechanisms of the Social Information Processing (SIP) model of Crick and Dodge (1994) are related to victimization. The reviewed studies have provided support for the relation between victimization and several social information processing mechanisms, especially the interpretation of cues and self-efficacy (as part of the response decision). The relationship between victimization and other mechanisms, such as the response generation, was only studied in a few articles. Until now research has often focused on just one step of the model, instead of attempting to measure the associations between multiple mechanisms and victimization in multivariate analyses. Such analyses would be interesting to gain more insight into the SIP model and its relationship with victimization. The few available longitudinal studies show that mechanisms both predict victimization (internal locus of control, negative self-evaluations and less assertive response selection) and are predicted by victimization (hostile attribution of intent and negative evaluations of others). Associations between victimization and SIP mechanisms vary across different types and severity of victimization (stronger in personal and severe victimization), and different populations (stronger among young victims). Practice could focus on these stronger associations and the interpretation of cues. More research is needed however, to investigate whether intervention programs that address SIP mechanisms are suitable for victimization and all relevant populations.

Discrepancy in perception of bullying experiences and later internalizing and externalizing behavior: A prospective study

“…This particular group might have difficulties in processing information related to bullying experience because: (1) peer nomination has been considered as a “gold standard” for the assessment of bullying experience (Graham & Juvonen, ; Ladd & Kochenderfer‐Ladd, ; Österman et al, ; Verlinden et al, ); and (2) self‐report of bullying experience depends on one's ability to interpret and reconstruct social events, and their willingness to report painful experience (Graham & Juvonen, ; Ladd & Kochenderfer‐Ladd, ;; Vessey et al, ). Previous studies also have demonstrated impairment of social information processing in victims and perpetrators of bullying, either by self‐report (Laible et al, ; Ziv et al, ) or parent/peer report (van Reemst, Fischer, & Zwirs, ; Ziv, ). When presented with an ambiguous social scenario, children, and adolescents who report bullying experience tend to interpret these situations as hostile, with higher levels of aggression, anger, and retaliation than do children without bullying experiences (Camodeca & Goossens, ; Hubbars et al, ; Lansford, Malone, Dodge, Pettit, & Bates, ; Lemerise & Arsenio, ; Pellegrini, Bartini, & Brooks, ; van Reemst et al, ; Ziv et al, ).…”

“…Previous studies also have demonstrated impairment of social information processing in victims and perpetrators of bullying, either by self‐report (Laible et al, ; Ziv et al, ) or parent/peer report (van Reemst, Fischer, & Zwirs, ; Ziv, ). When presented with an ambiguous social scenario, children, and adolescents who report bullying experience tend to interpret these situations as hostile, with higher levels of aggression, anger, and retaliation than do children without bullying experiences (Camodeca & Goossens, ; Hubbars et al, ; Lansford, Malone, Dodge, Pettit, & Bates, ; Lemerise & Arsenio, ; Pellegrini, Bartini, & Brooks, ; van Reemst et al, ; Ziv et al, ). Findings from our study add support to these previous results that adolescents who might misinterpret neutral or ambiguous situations as bullying, are also showing later increased externalizing, as well as internalizing behavior.…”

A Theoretical Framework to Study Variations in Workplace Violence Experienced by Emergency Responders

“…80 Studies in other populations also found these interpretations, referred to as hostile attributions of the situation, to be related to victimisation: people who interpret hypothetical situations as more hostile, generally, also experience more victimisation. 81 Aquino, Douglas and Martinko 82 have found a relationship between workplace violence and various other negative attributions, namely the tendency to attribute negative outcomes as external to themselves, stable, intentional and controllable. Studying hostile attributions as a possible indicator of workplace violence could thus be worthwhile.…”

Response decision, emotions, and victimization of police officers

“…To date, the response decision and emotions have predominantly been used successfully to explain aggressive behaviour (for example, Kempes et al, 2005). Moreover, in several recent studies, the SIP dimensions and emotions have also been found to be related to victimization (Van Reemst et al, 2014). Because studies on response decision, emotions, and the victimization of police officers are limited, we have based our expectations on victimization studies in other populations.…”