Community Violence and Reactive and Proactive Aggression: The Mediating Role of Cognitive and Emotional Variables

Abstract

Children exposed to higher levels of violence\ntend to be more aggressive. Specific mechanisms\nexplaining this relationship are still being uncovered.\nThis study sought to identify the relationship\nbetween exposure to community violence\nand reactive and proactive aggression, as well\nas cognitive and emotional variables mediating\nthis relationship. Participants were 1,235 students\n(from fifth to ninth grade) from localities of\nBogotá, Colombia, with varying levels of community\nviolence. Analyses of self-reported measures\nconfirmed significant associations between exposure\nto community violence and both reactive and\nproactive aggression. Normative beliefs supporting\naggression, hostile attribution of intent, positive\nexpectations for aggression, and lack of guilt\nafter aggression, partially mediated these relationships,\nsuggesting strategies for prevention.

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