Growing Up Amid Ethno-Political Conflict: Aggression and Emotional Desensitization Promote Hostility to Ethnic Outgroups.
Ethno-political violence impacts thousands of youth and is associated with numerous negative outcomes. Yet little research examines adaptation to ethno-political violence over time or across multiple outcomes simultaneously. This study examines longitudinal patterns of aggressive behavior and emotional distress as they co-occur among Palestinian (n = 600) youth exposed to ethno-political violence over 3 years in three age cohorts (starting ages: 8, 11, and 14). Findings indicate distinct profiles of aggressive behavior and emotional distress, and unique joint patterns. Furthermore, youth among key joint profiles (e.g., high aggression-emotional desensitization) are more likely to endorse normative beliefs about aggression toward ethnic outgroups. This study offers a dynamic perspective on emotional and behavioral adaptation to ethno-political violence and the implications of those processes.
Brooklyn College, City University of New York. eyniwa@brooklyn.cuny.edu.
Erika Y
EY
Niwa
Rutgers University.|The University of Michigan.
Paul
P
Boxer
The University of Michigan.|Bowling Green State University.
Eric
E
Dubow
The University of Michigan.
L R
LR
Huesmann
Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.
Khalil
K
Shikaki
Institute of Criminology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.|Yezreel Valley Academic College.
Simha
S
Landau
Department of Communication, Tel Aviv University.
Shira D
SD
Gvirsman
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D004644:Emotions; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D000069581:Exposure to Violence / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000208:ethnology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D011057:Politics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology*
Dev Psychopathol. 2000 Autumn;12(4):857-85
11202047
Child Dev. 2008 Jul-Aug;79(4):882-98
18717896
Child Dev. 2014 Jan-Feb;85(1):6-20
24341286
J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2012;41(6):837-44
22540411
J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2010;39(1):103-16
20390802
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001 Nov;40(11):1337-45
11699809
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1997 Feb;72(2):408-19
9107008
Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2003 Dec;6(4):265-74
14719638
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2002 Jan;72(1):92-101
14964598
Dev Psychopathol. 2004 Fall;16(4):1007-27
15704825
J Res Adolesc. 2016 Mar 1;26(1):166-179
27019573
Child Dev. 2010 Jul-Aug;81(4):1077-95
20636683
Peace Confl. 2014 Feb;20(1):26-38
26633936
Psychol Methods. 2001 Mar;6(1):18-34
11285809
Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2009 Jun;12(2):113-26
19430904
Trauma Violence Abuse. 2013 Jul;14(3):209-21
23649832
Br J Psychiatry. 2000 Dec;177:534-9
11102329
Child Dev. 2013 Jan-Feb;84(1):163-77
22906188
Aggress Behav. 2009 Nov-Dec;35(6):514-9
19790255
Early Educ Dev. 2010 Nov 30;21(6):886-911
25741172
Dev Psychol. 2003 Mar;39(2):222-45
12661883
Dev Psychopathol. 2010 May;22(2):405-18
20423550
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Mar;164(3):238-42
20194256
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2007 Feb;75(1):160-7
17295575
Soc Dev. 2009 Feb 1;18(1):181-209
25722543