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Personality, Parental, and Media Influences on Aggressive Personality and Violent Crime in Young Adults

NCJ Number
225564
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 395-414
Author(s)
Christopher J. Ferguson; Amanda M. Cruz; Daniel Martinez; Stephanie M. Rueda; Diana E. Ferguson; Charles Negy
Date Published
2008
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Based on data from 355 young adults, this study examined the influence on violent criminal behavior of gender and personality, exposure to physical abuse and violence in the family, and exposure to media violence in both television and video games.
Abstract
The findings indicate that aggressiveness is most common among males who exhibit a neurotic or “depressive” personality style marked by worry and pessimism. Aggressiveness may be further exacerbated by exposure to physical abuse in childhood. Exposure to violent media did not significantly add to the prediction of violent behavior beyond the predictive power of gender, personality characteristics, and exposure to family violence. Direct exposure to physical abuse was the strongest predictor of engagement in violent crime, along with aggressive personality and witnessing domestic violence in the family. Other family variables, such as the use of spanking, alcohol and drug use, and verbal abuse, were not predictive of violent crime. These findings suggest that compared to efforts that focus on media content, investments that focus on child abuse and domestic violence are more cost-effective in preventing violent behavior. Future research should address better testing for genetic influences on violent behavior and longitudinal studies of the effect of multiple factors on aggressive and violent behavior. Study participants were 355 undergraduate students (52.7 percent female) attending a Southern State university. Instruments administered measured general personality, aggressive personality, violent criminal behavior, exposure to family violence, video game habits, and television viewing habits. 1 figure, 3 tables and 40 references