Violent behavior among middle school children: The role of gender and personality traits

Abstract

This paper examines the role of personality traits and gender in violent interaction among middle school children (11-15 age range). The aim of the research presented here was to determine the contribution of personality traits and gender to various aspects of violent interaction, i.e. predisposition towards and exposure to peer violence. The sample consisted of 344 students from 5th to 8th grade, the majority of whom were girls (60.8%). The instruments used in the research were a questionnaire designed to assess violent behavior in primary school children (PRONA) and the Big Five Plus Two inventory (the BF + 2 for children), designed to assess seven basic personality traits in primary school children. The results of a multivariate analysis of covariance suggest that boys tend to perpetrate and be exposed to violent behaviour more than girls, and also that certain personality traits contribute to the manifestation of these constructs. Exposure to violence is determined by low Extraversion, as well as higher levels of Neuroticism and Negative Valence. The traits that contribute most significantly to the tendency towards abusive behaviour are high levels of Aggression and Negative Valence as well as lower levels of Positive Valence. The most effective means of abuse prevention among middle school children is the setting up of prevention programs along with the detection of specific vulnerable groups of students, and the adjustment of these programs to students' personological traits.

Keywords

• predisposition to violence
• exposure to violence
• personality traits
• gender
• middle school children