Social-Cognitive Information-Processing Correlates of Weapon Use among Juveniles

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

A large body of research indicates that violent behavior is maintained over time and across situations in part by a social-cognitive information processing (SCIP) style that includes hostile attributions of intent, approving beliefs about violent retaliation to provocation, and persistent fantasizing about engaging in violence (Huesmann, 1988, 1998; Guerra & Huesmann, 2004). This SCIP orientation develops through observational and direct learning of aggressive and violent responses and is supported by social-ecological contexts that promote and even reward violence (Huesmann, 1998). Yet strikingly little research has considered SCIP factors in relation to weapon use. We examined SCIP correlates of weapon use in a sample of 200 youth (44% male, 90% nonwhite) enrolled in 10th grade in the public school district of a medium-sized northeastern city. Youth completed measures of weapon use (guns, knives) along with hostile biases, beliefs approving of aggressive responding, and violent fantasy. Correlations suggest that youth who use weapons are more likely to attribute hostile intent to ambiguous provocations (p < .10), more supportive of aggressive retaliation (p < .001), and more frequently fantasizing about engaging in violence (p < .01). Results will be expanded and discussed with respect to implications for criminological and developmental research and theory.

Authors

• Paul Boxer, Rutgers University

• Jennifer Irving, Rutgers University

• Sekinat Kuku, Rutgers University

• Catruicha Muscadin, Rutgers University

• Yalitza Nieves, Rutgers University

• Rushabh Shah, Rutgers University

• Eric F Dubow, Bowling Green State University

• L. Rowell Huesmann, The University of Michigan