A bit of the old ultra-violence
Childhood and Adolescent Television Viewing and Antisocial Behavior in Early Adulthood
Lindsay Robertson, Helena McAnally & Robert Hancox
Pediatrics, March 2013, Pages 439 -446
Objective: To investigate whether excessive television viewing throughout childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood.
Methods: We assessed a birth cohort of 1037 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1972-1773, at regular intervals from birth to age 26 years. We used regression analysis to investigate the associations between television viewing hours from ages 5 to 15 years and criminal convictions, violent convictions, diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and aggressive personality traits in early adulthood.
Results: Young adults who had spent more time watching television during childhood and adolescence were significantly more likely to have a criminal conviction, a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and more aggressive personality traits compared with those who viewed less television. The associations were statistically significant after controlling for sex IQ, socioeconomic status, previous antisocial behavior, and parental control. The associations were similar for both sexes, indicating that the relationship between television viewing and antisocial behavior is similar for male and female viewers.
Conclusions: Excessive television viewing in childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood. The findings are consistent with a causal association and support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children should watch no more than 1 to 2 hours of television each day.
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Neuroprediction of future rearrest
Eyal Aharoni et al.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, forthcoming
Abstract:
Identification of factors that predict recurrent antisocial behavior is integral to the social sciences, criminal justice procedures, and the effective treatment of high-risk individuals. Here we show that error-related brain activity elicited during performance of an inhibitory task prospectively predicted subsequent rearrest among adult offenders within 4 y of release (N = 96). The odds that an offender with relatively low anterior cingulate activity would be rearrested were approximately double that of an offender with high activity in this region, holding constant other observed risk factors. These results suggest a potential neurocognitive biomarker for persistent antisocial behavior.
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Daniel Fessler & Colin Holbrook
Psychological Science, forthcoming
Abstract:
In situations of potential violent conflict, deciding whether to fight, flee, or try to negotiate entails assessing many attributes contributing to the relative formidability of oneself and one's opponent. Summary representations can usefully facilitate such assessments of multiple factors. Because physical size and strength are both phylogenetically ancient and ontogenetically recurrent contributors to the outcome of violent conflicts, these attributes provide plausible conceptual dimensions that may be used by the mind to summarize the relative formidability of opposing parties. Because the presence of allies is a vital factor in determining victory, we hypothesized that men accompanied by male companions would therefore envision a solitary foe as physically smaller and less muscular than would men who were alone. We document the predicted effect in two studies, one using naturally occurring variation in the presence of male companions and one employing experimental manipulation of this factor.
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Enhancing Static Facial Features Increases Intimidation
Eric Hehman, Jordan Leitner & Samuel Gaertner
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, forthcoming
Abstract:
Previous research has established that a face's width-to-height ratio (fWHR) is pivotal in influencing observer evaluations, as individuals with a high fWHR are perceived as intimidating along multiple dimensions. Specifically, high-fWHR individuals are considered untrustworthy, aggressive, and prejudiced. Unlike other facial features involved in intimidation, fWHR is dependent upon bone structure and thus static. The current research examines whether individuals, in an effort to appear more intimidating, increase their perceived fWHR by manipulating the angle at which their faces are viewed. In Study 1, participants spontaneously posing as "intimidating" for photos had a greater fWHR compared to when they posed for a baseline photo. Additionally, individuals with smaller Baseline fWHRs, who would be particularly likely to benefit from augmenting their perceived fWHR, increased their fWHR more than individuals with larger fWHRs by tilting their heads more sharply. In Study 2 participants evaluated targets posed with their faces tilted or non-tilted. When targets were presented with their faces tilted they were evaluated as more intimidating than non-tilted baseline photos of the same target. This effect was greater for targets with larger baseline fWHRs. Up- or down-tilt and target gender differentially moderated this relationship. The current research presents evidence that individuals behaviorally manipulate their perceived fWHR in order to appear more intimidating.
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Kathleen Beullens & Jan Van den Bulck
Media Psychology, Winter 2013, Pages 88-114
Abstract:
The aim of the study is to examine whether the playing of driving games and the viewing of music videos during adolescence predict crash involvement in emerging adulthood. A prospective cohort study (N = 471) with a five-year interval was used to measure adolescents' gender, media use, personality characteristics (baseline measurement), and crash involvement (follow-up). At baseline measurement (2006), respondents were 17 or 18 years old and did not yet have their driver's license. Data were analyzed by means of logistic regression analyses and the calculation of attributable risks. Respondents who watched music videos at least several times a week (OR = 4.319) or respondents who played drive'em up games at least a few times a month (OR = 3.125) had a heightened chance of being involved in a car crash five years later, even after controlling for their total media exposure, gender, and personality characteristics. Implications for prevention are discussed.
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Ian Penton-Voak et al.
Psychological Science, forthcoming
Abstract:
The ability to identify emotion in other people is critical to social functioning. In a series of experiments, we explored the relationship between recognition of emotion in ambiguous facial expressions and aggressive thoughts and behavior, both in healthy adults and in adolescent youth at high risk of criminal offending and delinquency. We show that it is possible to experimentally modify biases in emotion recognition to encourage the perception of happiness over anger in ambiguous expressions. This change in perception results in a decrease in self-reported anger and aggression in healthy adults and high-risk youth, respectively, and also in independently rated aggressive behavior in high-risk youth. We obtained similar effects on mood using two different techniques to modify biases in emotion perception (feedback-based training and visual adaptation). These studies provide strong evidence that emotion processing plays a causal role in anger and the maintenance of aggressive behavior.
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Fitness benefits of coalitionary aggression in male chimpanzees
Ian Gilby et al.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, March 2013, Pages 373-381
Abstract:
Coalitionary aggression occurs when at least two individuals jointly direct aggression at one or more conspecific targets. Scientists have long argued that this common form of cooperation has positive fitness consequences. Nevertheless, despite evidence that social bond strength (which is thought to promote coalition formation) is correlated with fitness in primates, cetaceans, and ungulates, few studies have directly examined whether coalitionary aggression improves reproductive success. We tested the hypothesis that among free-ranging chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii), participation in coalitionary aggression increases reproductive output. Using 14 years of genetic and behavioral data from Gombe National Park, Tanzania, we found that coalitionary aggression increased a male's chances of (A) siring offspring, compared to other males of similar dominance rank, and (B) ascending in rank, a correlate of future reproductive output. Because male chimpanzees form coalitions with many others within a complex network, we used social network analysis to identify the types of connections correlated with these fitness benefits. The beneficiaries of coalitionary aggression were males with the highest "betweenness" - that is, those who tended to have coalition partners who themselves did not form coalitions with each other. This suggests that beyond simply recognizing third-party relationships, chimpanzees may use this knowledge to choose coalition partners. If so, this is a significant step forward in our knowledge of the adaptive value of social intelligence. Regardless of mechanism, however, this is the first evidence of genetic benefits of coalitionary aggression in this species, and therefore has important implications for understanding the evolution of cooperation.
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Third Party Involvement in Barroom Conflicts
Michael Parks et al.
Aggressive Behavior, forthcoming
Abstract:
This study examines the effect of situational variables on whether third parties intervene in conflicts in barroom settings, and whether they are aggressive or not when they intervene. Based on research on bystander intervention in emergencies, we hypothesized that third parties would be most likely to become involved in incidents with features that convey greater danger of serious harm. The situational variables indicative of danger were severity of aggression, whether the aggression was one-sided or mutual, gender, and level of intoxication of the initial participants in the conflict. Analyses consist of cross-tabulations and three-level Hierarchical Logistic Models (with bar, evening, and incidents as levels) for 860 incidents of verbal and physical aggression from 503 nights of observation in 87 large bars and clubs in Toronto, Canada. Third party involvement was more likely during incidents in which: (1) the aggression was more severe; (2) the aggression was mutual (vs. one-sided) aggression; (3) only males (vs. mixed gender) were involved; and (4) participants were more intoxicated. These incident characteristics were stronger predictors of non-aggressive third party involvement than aggressive third party involvement. The findings suggest that third parties are indeed responding to the perceived danger of serious harm. Improving our knowledge about this aspect of aggressive incidents is valuable for developing prevention and intervention approaches designed to reduce aggression in bars and other locations.
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Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry predict overt aggression in early adolescents
Troy Visser et al.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, forthcoming
Abstract:
The devastating social, emotional, and economic consequences of human aggression are laid bare nightly on newscasts around the world. Aggression is principally mediated by neural circuitry comprising multiple areas of the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), amygdala, and hippocampus. A striking characteristic of these regions is their structural asymmetry about the midline (i.e., left vs. right hemisphere). Variations in these asymmetries have been linked to clinical disorders characterized by aggression and the rate of aggressive behavior in psychiatric patients. Here we show for the first time that structural asymmetries in prefrontal cortical areas are also linked to aggression in a normal population of early adolescents. Our findings indicate a relationship between parent reports of aggressive behavior in adolescents and structural asymmetries in the limbic and paralimbic ACC and OFC, and moreover, that this relationship varies by sex. Furthermore, while there was no relationship between aggression and structural asymmetries in the amygdala or hippocampus, hippocampal volumes did predict aggression in females. Taken together, the results suggest that structural asymmetries in the prefrontal cortex may influence human aggression, and that the anatomical basis of aggression varies substantially by sex.
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Jamie Ostrov et al.
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, forthcoming
Abstract:
The central goal of this study was to examine the prospective associations between forms (i.e., physical and relational) and functions (i.e., proactive and reactive) of aggressive behavior with social (i.e., peer rejection) and affective (i.e., anger, emotion regulation skills) processes during early childhood (N = 96, mean age = 42.80 months, SD = 7.57). A cross-lagged path analysis revealed that proactive relational aggression was uniquely associated with decreases in peer rejection, whereas reactive relational aggression was associated with increases in peer rejection over time. Proactive relational aggression predicted decreases in anger, whereas reactive relational aggression tended to be associated with increases in anger. Proactive relational aggression uniquely predicted increases in emotion regulation skills, whereas reactive relational aggression tended to be associated with decreases in emotion regulation skills over time. Finally, anger was significantly associated with increases in several subtypes of aggressive behavior. In sum, the findings provide further support for the distinction between subtypes of aggressive behavior in young children.
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Video Games, Immersion, and Cognitive Aggression: Does the Controller Matter?
Rory McGloin, Kirstie Farrar & Marina Krcmar
Media Psychology, Winter 2013, Pages 65-87
Abstract:
The influence of video game realism and controller naturalness on aggression was examined with an experiment that manipulated game realism and controller naturalness. Perceived controller naturalness increased perceptions of realism of the game and led to greater immersion. The more realistic game was perceived as such and led to greater immersion. Ultimately, greater immersion led to more cognitive aggression. Results are discussed in terms of a mental models approach and the process of model matching.
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Ki Joon Kim & Shyam Sundar
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, forthcoming
Abstract:
Aggressiveness attributed to violent video game play is typically studied as a function of the content features of the game. However, can interface features of the game also affect aggression? Guided by the General Aggression Model (GAM), we examine the controller type (gun replica vs. mouse) and screen size (large vs. small) as key technological aspects that may affect the state aggression of gamers, with spatial presence and arousal as potential mediators. Results from a between-subjects experiment showed that a realistic controller and a large screen display induced greater aggression, presence, and arousal than a conventional mouse and a small screen display, respectively, and confirmed that trait aggression was a significant predictor of gamers' state aggression. Contrary to GAM, however, arousal showed no effects on aggression; instead, presence emerged as a significant mediator.
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Exploring the Genetic Origins of Adolescent Victimization in a Longitudinal Sample of Adoptees
Kevin Beaver et al.
Victims & Offenders, Spring 2013, Pages 148-163
Abstract:
Behavioral genetic research has consistently revealed that genetic factors explain a significant proportion of variance in antisocial phenotypes. Despite some initial evidence, the extent to which genetic factors influence adolescent victimization remains largely undetermined. The current study partially addresses this gap in the literature by employing an adoption-based research design to estimate genetic influences on victimization. Participants consisted of adoptees drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Multivariate analyses revealed that adoptees who had a biological criminal father or a biological criminal mother were at increased risk for being victimized in adolescence and also to be victimized repeatedly. This is the first study to use an adoption-based research design to show an association between genetic factors and the risk for adolescent victimization.
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The Willingness to Pay to Reduce School Bullying
Mattias Persson & Mikael Svensson
Economics of Education Review, forthcoming
Abstract:
The number of programs used to reduce bullying in schools is increasing, but often with a lack of understanding of the effectiveness and monetary benefits. This paper uses a discrete choice experiment conducted in Sweden in the spring of 2010 to elicit the willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce school bullying. Non-parametric and parametric approaches indicate a mean marginal WTP of 5.95 to 8.48 Swedish kronor (€0.66 to €0.95) for each reduced victim of bullying. The aggregate societal WTP for each reduced statistical victim of bullying, referred to here as the value of a statistical bullying-victim (VSBV), is then 585,090 to 835,280 Swedish kronor (€65,446 to €93,431). The VSBV may be interpreted as the aggregate WTP to prevent one statistical case of a bullying-victim. The result may be used to conduct economic evaluations of antibullying programs, which is demonstrated here by a simple cost-benefit analysis of one of the most common antibullying programs. The VSBV may also be relevant for providing policymakers with useful information on taxpayers' preferred allocations to antibullying programs in general.
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Yoshito Kawabata & Nicki Crick
Asian American Journal of Psychology, forthcoming
Abstract:
The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of ethnicity in the associations between forms of aggression or experiences of peer victimization and externalizing and internalizing problems. The sample consisted of 232 (146 European American and 86 Asian American) children who were in the fourth grade (ages 9-10). Asian American children were in the visible minority group based on the demographic information regarding the neighborhoods, school districts, and school diversity. Results demonstrated that relative to European American children, Asian American children displayed lower levels of relational and physical aggression and experienced less relational and physical victimization. Moreover, the associations of relational aggression and relational victimization with internalizing adjustment problems were moderated by the ethnicity of children, such that the magnitude of these associations was stronger for Asian American children. In contrast, the relations of physical aggression and physical victimization with externalizing adjustment problems were evidenced only for European American children. Cross-ethnic differences in the links between forms of aggression or peer victimization and the development of psychopathology are discussed.
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Brian Boutwell et al.
Journal of Theoretical Biology, 7 April 2013, Pages 72-80
Abstract:
The study of human crime and violence represents a flashpoint for discussion across academia. Multiple theories exist pertaining to the topic, all aimed at organizing numerous findings surrounding correlates of antisocial behavior. Along these lines, Moffitt's developmental taxonomy has emerged as a theory well supported by empirical research. Noticeably absent, though, has been an effort to apply an evolutionary framework to Moffitt's dual taxonomy of offending. With this in mind, the current study is intended to examine Moffitt's different typologies in the context of Rushton's Differential K theory (an adaptation of r-K selection from life history theory). Our findings suggest that life-course persistent offending may represent a viable reproductive strategy characterized by higher levels of sexual involvement over the life-course.
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J.C. Barnes
Criminal Justice and Behavior, May 2013, Pages 519-540
Abstract:
Moffitt's developmental taxonomy has sparked much attention among criminologists interested in explaining the etiology of life-course-persistent (LCP) offending. The taxonomy suggests that genetic factors influence LCP offending, that genetic risk factors will be mediated by neuropsychological deficits, and that genetic factors interact with environmental factors to influence LCP offending. Various behavior genetic methodologies were used to estimate the genetic influence on LCP offending, to determine whether these genetic factors were mediated by the presence of neuropsychological deficits, and to control for genetic factors while simultaneously estimating the impact of numerous environmental influences. The findings suggested that genetic factors influence persistent offending and that these influences are partially mediated by levels of self-control. No parental influences predicted persistent offending after controlling for genetic effects, no Gene × Environment interactions were found, and few environmental influences operated as a nonshared environmental predictor of persistent offending.
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Life History theory and social deviance: The mediating role of Executive Function
C.J. Wenner et al.
Intelligence, March-April 2013, Pages 102-113
Abstract:
The present work examined predicted relations among Life History strategies, Executive Functions, socially antagonistic attitudes, socially antagonistic behaviors, and general intelligence. Life History (LH) theory predicts that Executive Functions and socially antagonistic attitudes and behaviors underpin an interrelated and coherent set of behavioral strategies (LH strategies) designed to enhance reproductive success. Specifically, LH theory predicts a positive relation between Executive Functioning and LH strategies; a negative relation between socially antagonistic attitudes and behaviors and LH strategies; and that Executive Functions mediate relations among LH strategies and socially antagonistic attitudes and behaviors. Results from a Structural Equation Model (SEM), based on self-reported Life History strategies, Executive Functioning, socially antagonistic attitudes and behaviors, and general intelligence support these predictions. The structure of the model suggests that Executive Functions serve a mediating role in the relations between LH strategy and social deviance.
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Dena Carson
Journal of Criminal Justice, May-June 2013, Pages 151-161
Purpose: This study uses social learning and balance theories to explore the relationship between a youth's perceptions of both prosocial and antisocial peer behavior and their own delinquent attitudes.
Methods: The current research examines both the contemporaneous and lagged relationships between peer behavior and a youth's delinquent attitudes, the relative effect of prosocial versus antisocial peer behavior on attitudes as well as the effects of changes in these variables. Relationships are examined using data from a multi-site longitudinal sample of 3,820 youth. Analyses are completed using random-effects regression techniques as well as change scores.
Results: Findings indicate that perceptions of prosocial peer behavior have a lasting protective effect on the formation of delinquent attitudes. However, when focusing on change over time, changes in perceptions of delinquent peer behavior produce a stronger change in delinquent attitudes.
Conclusions: The current study was able to make advancements to both social learning and balance theory by focusing on perceptions of peer behavior and delinquent attitudes. The results justify the significance of continuing to examine factors that relate to how peer associations matter for delinquent attitudes and behavior.
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Nicholas Kelley, Ruud Hortensius & Eddie Harmon-Jones
Psychological Science, forthcoming
Abstract:
Anger is associated with various responses. Research on the neuroscience of anger has revealed that greater left than right frontal cortical activity is associated with angry approach-oriented responses, such as aggression, whereas greater right than left frontal cortical activity is associated with inhibited angry responses mixed with anxiety. In the current research, we extended these past studies by manipulating asymmetric frontal cortical activity using transcranial direct current stimulation and assessing its influence on ruminative responses to an interpersonal insult. Results revealed that self-reported rumination was greatest for participants who received a manipulated increase in relative right frontal cortical activity compared with those who received either a manipulated increase in relative left frontal cortical activity or sham stimulation. Taken together with past findings, the current results suggest that anger associated with greater relative left frontal cortical activity predicts approach-oriented aggressive action, whereas anger associated with greater relative right frontal cortical activity predicts inhibited rumination.