title: Distribution of verbal and physical violence for same and opposite genders among adolescents.
abstract: The present study was set up to test the perceived distribution of verbal and physical violent behaviors among same- and opposite-genders. More specifically, those perceived violent behaviors are examined as the outcome of adolescents' cost-risk goals. The study assumes two conflicting social goals: Whereas the goal of risk reduction may motivate withdrawal from conflict, and decrease the prevalence of violent events, the goal of pursuing social status may motivate initiation and/or retaliation, thus increasing the prevalence of violence. The study is based on a sample of 155 high-school students that recorded the frequency of observing violent events in their peer group over a one-week period. Findings demonstrate that for males, opponent gender had a primary effect on violence distribution. Males exhibited violence against males more frequently than against females. This result is consistent with the assumption that males set a higher priority to pursuing social status. For females, verbal violence was more frequent than physical forms of aggression. This is consistent with the assumption that females set a higher priority on avoiding risk. These results are discussed from an evolutionary cost-risk perspective.
authors.affiliation: The Center for the Study of Society, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel. zeevwin@research.haifa.ac.il
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Winstok
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Enosh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000378:Agonistic Behavior; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*