Aggression is an unfortunate reality in today’s society. It is a behavior that is often seen in people of all ages, and can have devastating consequences. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about aggression and its causes. This article will explore some of these beliefs and offer alternative perspectives. First and foremost, it is important to recognize that aggression is not a sign of strength. It is often seen as a way to gain power or control, but in reality, it is a sign of insecurity and a lack of self–control. Furthermore, aggression is not an effective way to resolve conflict. It can lead to further hostility and can even escalate the situation. Another common misconception is that aggression is caused by external factors, such as poverty or a lack of education. While these factors can certainly contribute to a person’s behavior, it is important to recognize that aggression is often rooted in internal issues, such as anger, frustration, or insecurity. It is important to address these issues in order to reduce aggressive behavior. Finally, it is important to recognize that aggression is not the only way to respond to difficult situations. Instead of resorting to aggression, it is important to explore alternative methods of conflict resolution, such as communication and negotiation. These methods are often more effective in resolving issues and can help to reduce the risk of aggression. In conclusion, it is important to recognize that aggression is not a sign of strength, and that it is often caused by internal issues. Furthermore, it is important to explore alternative methods of conflict resolution instead of resorting to aggression. By understanding these beliefs and exploring alternatives, we can work towards reducing the prevalence of aggression in our society.
This instrument can be found on pages 29-30 of Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes‚ Behaviors‚ and Influences Among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools‚ available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/YV_Compendium.pdf .
Personal Beliefs about Alternatives can be found on page 108-109 of Latino Families and Youth: A Compendium of Assessment Tools‚ available online at: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=23171&Itemid=
AGE RANGE
Middle school students (has been used with grades 6-8 in previous research).
HOW TO ADMINISTER AND SCORE
Scoring and Analysis
Point values are assigned as follows:
Strongly agree = 4
Agree = 3
Disagree = 2
Strongly disagree = 1
SOURCE
Farrell AD‚ Meyer AL‚ White KS. Evaluation of responding in peaceful and positive ways (RIPP): a school-based prevention program for reducing violence among urban adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology‚ 2001: 30(4): 451-463.
Multisite Violence Prevention Project. Description of measures: cohort-wide student survey‚ 2004. Available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‚ National Center for Injury Prevention and Control‚ Atlanta‚ GA. (Unpublished)
Point values are assigned as indicated on the survey (1–4). All items are reverse coded before summing. Two subscales are included in this assessment: Beliefs about Aggression (items 3‚ 4‚ 6‚ 10‚ 11 and 12) and Use of Nonviolent Strategies (items 1‚ 2‚ 5‚ 7 and 8). Point values for responses in each subscale are summed and then divided by the total number of items in the subscale.
Beliefs about Aggression: A high score indicates more favorable beliefs supporting the use of aggression.
Use of Nonviolent Strategies: A high score indicates higher levels of support for using nonviolent strategies.
SOURCE
Multisite Violence Prevention Project. (2004). Description of measures: cohort-wide student survey. Atlanta‚ GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‚ National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Beliefs about Aggression and Alternatives
1. If I’m mad at someone‚ I just ignore them.
2. Even if other kids would think I’m weird‚ I would try to stop a fight.
3. It’s O.K. for me to hit someone to get them to do what I want.
4. Sometimes a person doesn’t have any choice but to fight.
5. When my friends fight‚ I try to get them to stop.
6. If I back down from a fight‚ everyone will think I’m a coward.
7. There are better ways to solve problems than fighting.
8. I try to talk out a problem instead of fighting.
9. I feel big and tough when I push someone around.
10. If people do something to make me really mad‚ they deserve to be beaten up.
11. Sometimes I have only two choices: get punched or punch the other kid first.
12. If I get crazy with anger‚ it’s O.K. to hit someone.
Personal Beliefs about Alternatives
1. If I’m mad at someone‚ I just ignore them.
2. Even if other kids would think I’m weird‚ I would try to stop a fight.
5. When my friends fight‚ I try to get them to stop.
7. There are better ways to solve problems than fighting.
8. I try to talk out a problem instead of fighting.
1. If I’m mad at someone‚ I just ignore them.
2. Even if other kids would think I’m weird‚ I would try to stop a fight.
5. When my friends fight‚ I try to get them to stop.
7. There are better ways to solve problems than fighting.
8. I try to talk out a problem instead of fighting.