TY - JOUR PY - 2005// TI - An introduction to "fight-seeking," and its role in peer-to-peer violence on college campuses JO - Personality and individual differences A1 - Swett, Bruce A1 - Marcus, Robert F. A1 - Reio, Thomas G. SP - 953 EP - 962 VL - 38 IS - 4 N2 - The aims of the present study were threefold: (1) to validate a new construct, "fight-seekers"--persons that initiate violence for neurobiological self-calming, (2) to explore differences in risk-taking and use of prevention practices in fight-seekers, and (3) to examine the influence of alcohol and peer influences on fight-seeking behavior. The sample consisted of 451 college students, with 35 being identified as fight-seekers. The fight-seekers were predominantly male, tended to fight when drunk, with friends who seek out fights, and with others who were drunk; usually in public settings with strangers, and often for the purpose of "self-calming." Fight-seekers fought three times as frequently as non-fight-seekers as well. Overall, the present findings provide support for the validity of the fight-seeking construct, as the fight-seeker group displayed a distinct pattern of violent behavior, in fighting frequency and intensity, as well as in the lack of prevention technique usage.

LA - SN - 0191-8869 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2004.09.011 ID - ref1 ER -