They Wear the Mask

Abstract

Interpersonal violence represents a serious health risk for African American male adolescents, especially those in urban environments. Given the nature of potentially high-stress inner-city contexts, perhaps it is not surprising that many young Black males engage in hypermasculine behavior, particularly aggression, to cope and earn respect from peers. Using theoretical frameworks that appreciate cultural, developmental, and gender differences, this study examines relationships between the hypervulnerable qualities of depression, rejection sensitivity, and fear and the hypermasculine outcome of aggression among young Black males in a remedial disciplinary context. Results suggested that depression and rejection sensitivity significantly correlated with anger- and aggression-related responses and can be argued to be potential exacerbators of aggression among these youth. Implications for anti-aggression intervention efforts with young Black males in urban contexts are discussed.

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