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Friendships and Violent Behavior During Adolescence
Author(s) -
Dishion Thomas J.,
Eddy J. Mark,
Haas Eric,
Li Fuzhong,
Spracklen Kathleen
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
social development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.078
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1467-9507
pISSN - 0961-205X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9507.1997.tb00102.x
Subject(s) - psychology , dyad , developmental psychology , friendship , interpersonal communication , interpersonal relationship , social psychology
This study investigated the extent to which interpersonal processes within male friendships are associated with violent behavior patterns during adolescence. At ages 13‐14, 15‐16, and 17‐18, we observed the participants (206 boys) in our laboratory discussing problem solving situations with a close friend. Although the boys typically brought in different friends for each of the three assessments, we found considerable continuity in the boys' behaviors, most notably in the topics discussed. In particular, the tendency of a dyad to engage in deviant and violent talk was uniquely associated with violence in adolescence, controlling for childhood antisocial behavior and coercive discipline practices in the home. These findings suggest that adolescent violence is embedded within enduring social interactional patterns of friendships, where the faces change but the process remains the same.