Common image of gang aggression is murder and inter-gang violence
However this is innacurate
Gang aggression is complex and is influenced by many of the same variables that are observed in non-criminal populations
Focus on displaced aggression (Dollard et al 1939) which occurs at interpersonal and intergroup levels
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Displaced Aggression
An aggressive action that was directed towards an individual or object that wasn’t the source of provocation
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Triggered Displaced Aggression
Disproportionate levels of aggression directed at an individual or object that was a minor provocation
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Context for Displacing Aggression
Provoking situation has an immaterial source, for example the economy is bad
The source of provocation leaves before retaliation, for example the individual who damaged the car disappeared before they were caught
The individual who caused the provocation has power over you, for example your employer tells you how stupid he thinks you are
Situations like the ones above can make an individual want to respond aggressively
This will influence their perceptions and reactions to subsequent events and increase the chances of overreacting to something that would normally just be of mild annoyance
Vasquez et al 2006
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Rumination
Defined as a self-focused attention towards an individual’s thoughts and feelings
Defined as provocation focused thought
Can maintain negative affect and cognitive representations of provoking events, therefore keeping individuals ready for aggressive response
Expect gang members to ruminate more than non-gang members because people who perceive anger as useful are more likely to ruminate
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Predictions
Gang affiliation can be correlated with rumination and displaced aggression
Gang affiliation and rumination can interact
Rumination can predict displaced aggression more than other factors, like trait aggression and trait hostility
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