Predictors, Causes, and Correlates of Male Youth Violence

Abstract

Youth who commit one type of violent offense tend to commit others; they also tend to commit nonviolent offenses and have co-occurring problems such as substance abuse and sexual promiscuity. Violent offenders tend to be frequent or persistent offenders. There is considerable continuity from childhood aggression to youth violence. The major long-term predictors are biological factors (low heart rate), individual factors (high impulsiveness and low intelligence), family factors (poor supervision, harsh discipline, a violent parent, large family size, a young mother, a broken family), peer delinquency, low socioeconomic status, urban residence, and a high-crime neighborhood. Immediate situational influences include potential offenders' motives (e. g., anger, a desire to hurt) and actions leading to violent events (e. g., the escalation of a trivial altercation). New longitudinal surveys could measure a wide range of risk and protective factors, study violent careers using self-reports, and focus on types of offenders and offenses.