Citation

Sams DP, Truscott SD. Child Youth Care Forum 2004; 33(1): 33-50.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between use of violence, empathy and exposure to community violence among urban at-risk adolescent males. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures to assess their levels of empathy, exposure to community violence and use of violent behavior. Literature suggests that a negative relationship exists between empathy and violent behavior. Adolescents who report high levels of exposure to violence will also report low levels of empathy and frequent use of violence. Furthermore, low empathy and high exposure to community violence are believed to predict increased use of violence among participants. Data were examined using a multiple regression analysis; results indicate that while low empathy alone does not predict use of violence, low empathy coupled with high levels of exposure to community violence is a significant predictor of use of violence. Implications for violence prevention and treatment, along with directions for future research are discussed. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Child and Youth Care Forum, 2004. Copyright © 2004 by Springer)

Juvenile Male
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Violence
Juvenile Witness
Exposure to Violence
Witnessing Violence Effects
Witnessing Community Violence
Empathy
Violence Causes
At Risk Youth
At Risk Male
At Risk Juvenile
Male Offender
Male Violence
Male Witness
02-04