NCJ Number
171241
Date Published
1998
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This chapter examines the relative strength of various predictors in contributing to violence and serious crime.
Abstract
The chapter is concerned with malleable risk and protective factors for violence identified in longitudinal studies, even if these factors have been investigated in too few studies to be included in a meta-analysis. Malleable or changeable individual predictors of violence identified in this study include pregnancy and delivery complications; hyperactivity; concentration problems; restlessness; risk taking; aggressiveness; early initiation of violent behavior itself; involvement in other forms of antisocial behavior; and beliefs and attitudes favorable to deviant or antisocial behavior including violence. Within the family, factors linked to later violence include living with a criminal parent or parents; harsh discipline; physical abuse and neglect; poor family management practices; low levels of parent/child involvement; high levels of family conflict; parental attitudes favorable to violence; and separation from family. Other factors linked to future violence include academic failure; low commitment to schooling; truancy and early school leaving; frequent school transitions; delinquent siblings or peers; gang membership; community disorganization; availability of drugs; neighborhood adults involved in crime; and exposure to violence and racial prejudice. Violent behavior appears to be a result of the interaction of contextual, individual, and situational factors. Tables, figure