title: Individual factors influencing effective nonviolent behavior and fighting in peer situations: a qualitative study with urban African American adolescents.
abstract: This qualitative study examined individual-level factors that influence adolescents' responses to problem situations involving peers. Interviews were conducted with 106 middle school students (97% African American) from an urban school system. Participants described factors that would make it easier and those that would make it more difficult for adolescents to make specific responses to problem situations. Responses included effective nonviolent responses and fighting. Qualitative analysis identified 17 individual-level themes representing personal resources, beliefs and values, perceived consequences, and appraisal of the situation. The identification of factors that influence fighting and nonviolent behavior has important implications for efforts to reduce aggression and promote effective nonviolent responses to problem situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA.
authors.forename: Albert D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Erwin
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bettencourt
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mays
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vulin-Reynolds
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Kevin W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kliewer
authors.forename: Aleta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011340:Problem Solving; D012919:Social Behavior; D012945:Social Values; D012951:Socialization; D014505:Urban Population; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014768:Virginia; D001741:Black or African American