Violence and aggression in children and youth: a socio-psychological perspective

Abstract

The article concerns group-and-culture-related manifestations of interpersonal violence and aggression in children and youths. It is well documented that the intensity of aggressive behaviour in children depends more on the socio-cultural environment in which they live in than on their sex per se. One typical form of group-related violence is bullying/victimization in schools. Violence and hostility against some members of the ingroup and outgroups can develop as a result of a threat to positive social identity of the individual's own group. However, such social groups as juvenile delinquent gangs are organized/integrated around hostile and violent activities as basic values. The juvenile delinquent gang is a product of several societal processes and structural influences, which include socio-demographic factors as well as a criminal subculture. Several socio-normative conditions, i.e. disorganization of social life, diffusion of responsibility, moral approval of aggression, are important prerequisites of violence and aggression escalation in the world of young people.