Date of Award
Fall 12-2014
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Applied Developmental Psychology
Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Monica A. Marsee
Second Advisor
Paul J. Frick
Third Advisor
Carl F. Weems
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated an association between violence exposure and aggression; however, research exploring the association between violence exposure and the forms and functions of aggression is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between trauma exposure with both reactive and proactive functions of aggression by examining two potential mediators (e.g., psychopathic traits and emotional dysregulation). Participants included 132 male juvenile offenders mandated to treatment in a residential facility (M = 16.78 years old; SD = 1.25). Results indicate emotional dysregulation partially mediated the association between trauma exposure and reactive aggression while controlling for proactive aggression. However, no evidence was found to support the hypothesis that psychopathic traits mediated the association between trauma exposure and proactive aggression. Results suggest trauma exposure is important in the development of reactive aggression. Thus, treatment approaches for aggressive youth should address issues of trauma exposure.
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Kelli R., "The Association between Trauma Exposure, Maladjustment, and Aggression in Detained Boys" (2014). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1948.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1948
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.