Perpetuating the cycle of violence in South African low-income communities: attraction to violence in young men exposed to continuous threat.
Perpetuating the cycle of violence in South African low-income communities: attraction to violence in young men exposed to continuous threat.
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DOI：
10.3402/ejpt.v7.29099
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发表时间：
2016
影响因子：
5
通讯作者：
Elbert T
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hinsberger M;Sommer J;Kaminer D;Holtzhausen L;Weierstall R;Seedat S;Madikane S;Elbert T
南非低收入城市社区的生活受到暴力循环的影响，其中青年男子主要既是受害者又是施暴者。有一些证据表明，尽管存在创伤后应激障碍症状，但表现出残忍倾向的青少年可以表现出高水平的心理社会功能。然而，在持续的威胁和日常麻烦的背景下，食欲侵略的作用尚未完全理解。在这项研究中，我们研究的作用，吸引力的暴力领域的持续创伤应激暴露和创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的严重程度和暴力犯罪的影响。对来自两个低收入开普敦社区的290名年轻男性进行了抽样调查。我们评估了食欲攻击与食欲攻击量表（AAS），PTSD症状与PTSD症状量表访谈，目击和自我经历的创伤性事件类型的数量与适应的儿童暴露于社区暴力问卷，和犯下的暴力事件类型的数量与适应的罪行清单从AAS。食欲侵略分数预测目击以及自我经历的创伤性事件。更高的食欲侵略分数导致更高水平的创伤后应激障碍的严重程度和犯下的暴力。生活在南非低收入地区的年轻男性可能会因接触暴力而产生对残忍的吸引力。他们的战斗意愿反过来又会增加暴力行为持续下去的可能性。与以前在冲突后地区的研究相反，食欲攻击和参与暴力并不能阻止创伤后应激障碍的发展，而是与更高水平的创伤后应激有关。创伤后应激障碍的症状，如回避和过度觉醒，以及对残酷的吸引力，从而愿意战斗，可能会支持在持续冲突的地区生存，但同时它们可能会助长暴力循环。
Life in the low-income urban communities of South Africa is imprinted by a cycle of violence in which young males predominantly are in the roles of both victim and perpetrator. There is some evidence that adolescents who show an attraction to cruelty can display high levels of psychosocial functioning despite the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms. However, the role of appetitive aggression in the context of ongoing threats and daily hassles is not yet fully understood. In this study, we examine the role of attraction to violence in areas of continuous traumatic stress exposure and its effect on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity and violence perpetration. A sample of 290 young males from two low-income Cape Town communities was surveyed. We assessed appetitive aggression with the Appetitive Aggression Scale (AAS), PTSD symptoms with the PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview, the number of witnessed and self-experienced traumatic event types with an adaptation of the Child Exposure to Community Violence questionnaire, and the number of perpetrated violence event types with an adapted offence checklist from the AAS. Appetitive aggression scores were predicted by witnessed as well as self-experienced traumatic events. Higher appetitive aggression scores resulted in higher levels of PTSD severity and perpetrated violence. Young males living in the low-income areas of South Africa may develop an attraction to cruelty in response to exposure to violence. Their willingness to fight in turn can increase the likelihood of continued violent behaviour. In contrast to previous research from postconflict areas, appetitive aggression and engagement in violence do not prevent the development of PTSD, but are instead associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress. PTSD symptoms such as avoidance and hyperarousal, as well as an attraction to cruelty and thus the willingness to fight, might support survival in areas of ongoing conflict, but at the same time they could fuel the cycle of violence.