Interpretations and Revenge Goals in Response to Peer Provocations: Comparing Adolescents in the United States and Pakistan

Overview

Journal Int J Behav Dev

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Psychology

Date 2023 Mar 3

PMID 36866232

Authors

Kristina L McDonald

Salma Siddiqui

Sunmi Seo

Carolyn E Gibson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study examined cultural specificity in how interpretations about peer provocation are associated with revenge goals and aggression. The sample consisted of young adolescents from the United States (369 seventh-graders; 54.7% male; 77.2% identified as White) and from Pakistan (358 seventh-graders; 39.2% male). Participants rated their interpretations and revenge goals in response to six peer provocation vignettes and completed peer nominations of aggressive behavior. Multi-group SEM models indicated cultural specificity in how interpretations were related to revenge goals. Interpretations that a friendship with the provocateur was unlikely were uniquely related to revenge goals for Pakistani adolescents. For U.S adolescents positive interpretations were negatively related to revenge but self-blame interpretations were positively related to vengeance goals. Revenge goals were related to aggression similarly across groups.

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