Attitudes Toward Violence: A Study of their Structure and their Individual Differ

Abstract

Few studies have explored attitudes toward violence across a broad range of violence domains. This study builds on Velicer, Huckel, and Hansen's (1989) multidimensional model of Attitudes Toward Violence by investigating the underlying factor structure of attitudes toward violence across a broader range of violence domains. A self-report questionnaire comprising items from established measures of attitudes toward violence across a wide range of violence domains and aggression, as well as measures of personality, social worldviews, values and ideological attitudes was completed by undergraduate students (N = 455). Exploratory factor analyses extracted first and second-order factors. Confirmatory factor analysis using SEM with latent variables supported the resulting model in which attitudes toward violence are represented as a multidimensional hierarchical construct with 10 first-order and four second-order factors: (1) Interpersonal Violence (Subculture of Violence, Rape & Intimate Partner Violence, Sports Violence, and Bullying); (2) Institutional Violence (Retaliatory Violence, Gun Violence, Penal Code Violence, and Violence in War); (3) Corporal Punishment of Children; and (4) Anti-Establishment Violence. The study also investigated whether a range of psychological variables influenced the four higher-order factors. Using Duckitt's (2001) dual process motivational model (DPM) as a theoretical framework, path analysis suggested that the causal sequence of Reactive Aggression, Agreeableness and Honesty-Humility mediated through Competitive-Jungle predicted each of the higher-order factors although, in comparison to the DPM, it was Competitive-Jungle and not Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) that predicted the outcome. In addition, there were direct effects of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Agreeableness on Interpersonal Violence, and a strong direct effect of RWA on Corporal Punishment of Children. The findings suggest that an individual's Competitive-Jungle Social Worldview may have a primary proximal effect on the formation of their attitudes toward violence, and that this social worldview may be primarily influenced by high levels of Reactive Aggression, low levels of Agreeableness, and low levels of Honesty-Humility. Notably, however, the paths from Competitive-Jungle Social Worldview to Interpersonal Violence and Institutional Violence were stronger than those to Corporal Punishment of Children and Anti- Establishment Violence. Theoretical implications are also discussed.