The benefits of aggressive traits : a study with current and former street children in Burundi

Crombach, Anselm; Elbert, Thomas

The benefits of aggressive traits : a study with current and former street children in Burundi

Dateien

Crombach_0-259274.pdfGröße: 98.23 KBDownloads: 1089

Datum

2014

Open Access-Veröffentlichung

Open Access Green

Sammlungen

Psychologie

Publikationstyp

Zeitschriftenartikel

Publikationsstatus

Published

Erschienen in

Child Abuse & Neglect. 2014, 38(6), pp. 1041-1050. ISSN 0145-2134. eISSN 1873-7757. Available under: doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.12.003

Zusammenfassung

Aggressive behavior in children and youths is commonly associated with exposure to violence and maltreatment. Consequently, aggressive behavior has often been explained as a form of reactive behavior in response to violence-inflicted mental suffering. However, perpetrating violence can become appealing, fascinating and exciting, i.e., may acquire appetitive, self-rewarding aspects. We postulated that this appetitive form of aggression reduces the vulnerability for developing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in insecure and violent environments. Furthermore we investigated the extent to which reactive aggression and appetitive aggression account for recent violent behavior in children and youths. We conducted semi-structured interviews in a sample of 112 children and youths (Mage=15.9 years) recruited from the streets, families and a residential center for vulnerable children in Burundi. We investigated the cumulative exposure to traumatic events and to domestic and community violence, assessed the recently committed offenses, the severity of PTSD symptoms, and the potential for reactive and appetitive aggression. Reactive aggression was positively related to PTSD, whilst appetitive aggression was negatively related to PTSD. Children higher in appetitive aggression were also more likely to display violent behavior. These results suggest that an appetitive perception of violence may be an useful adaption to insecure and violent living conditions reducing the vulnerability of children for trauma-related mental disorders. However, positive feelings experienced through violent or cruel behavior are also an important risk factor for ongoing aggressive behavior and therefore need to be considered in prevention strategies.

Fachgebiet (DDC)

150 Psychologie

Schlagwörter

Burundi; Violent behavior; Resilience against PTSD; Street children; Reactive aggression; Appetitive aggression

Zitieren

ISO 690

CROMBACH, Anselm, Thomas ELBERT, 2014. The benefits of aggressive traits : a study with current and former street children in Burundi. In: Child Abuse & Neglect. 2014, 38(6), pp. 1041-1050. ISSN 0145-2134. eISSN 1873-7757. Available under: doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.12.003

BibTex

@article{Crombach2014benef-29272,
  year={2014},
  doi={10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.12.003},
  title={The benefits of aggressive traits : a study with current and former street children in Burundi},
  number={6},
  volume={38},
  issn={0145-2134},
  journal={Child Abuse & Neglect},
  pages={1041--1050},
  author={Crombach, Anselm and Elbert, Thomas}
}

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Universitätsbibliographie

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