Justice Sensitivity Is Positively and Negatively Related to Prejudice and Discrimination

The trait justice sensitivity captures individual differences in the tendency to perceive injustice and to negatively respond to these perceptions. The tendency to negatively respond to injustice to one’s disadvantage (victim justice sensitivity) was reliably linked to different measures of antisocial behavior and conservative values. Thus, we assumed that victim justice sensitivity should also be positively related to prejudice and discrimination. In contrast, the tendency to negatively respond to injustice to the disadvantage of others (altruistic justice sensitivity), was reliably linked to prosocial behavior. Hence, we assumed that altruistic justice sensitivity should also show negative relations with prejudice and discrimination. In order to test these assumptions, we surveyed justice sensitivity, prejudices against three different groups, and discrimination experiences among N=343 participants (M=26.61 years, 79 percent women) in Germany. We found that victim justice sensitivity predicted more self-perpetrated discrimination. Altruistic justice sensitivity predicted less total prejudice and self-perpetrated discrimination and mediated the link between self-experienced discrimination and prejudice/self-perpetrated discrimination unless age, gender, and education were controlled for. Discrimination can promote discrimination. Future research on correlates and potential risk and protective factors of prejudice and discrimination should also consider justice sensitivity as a moral-related trait

Longitudinal associations between justice sensitivity, nonsuicidal self-injury, substance use, and victimization by peers

Justice sensitivity (JS), the tendency to perceive and negatively respond to alleged injustice, has been associated with a range of internalizing and externalizing problems and peer victimization; however, it remains unclear if it has an association with self-victimization. Participants (N = 769) reported on their JS longitudinally at 9–19 (T1), 11–21 (T2), and 14–22 years of age (T3). They further reported on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and illegal substance use as indicators of self-victimization as well as victimization by peers at T2 and T3. A cross-lagged latent model revealed that victim JS at T1 was positively associated with NSSI, substance use, and peer victimization at T2, and victim JS at T2 was positively associated with substance use at T3. Higher observer JS at T2 predicted higher illegal substance use at T3 and higher illegal substance use at T2 predicted higher observer JS at T3. Finally, higher peer victimization at T2 predicted less perpetrator JS at T3 in the total group. Multigroup models further revealed sex-specific effects. Our findings highlight that being sensitive to injustice, particularly the tendency to feel unfairly treated or being taken advantage of, contributes to individuals’ vulnerability to both engaging in behaviors reflecting self-victimization and being a target of peer victimization, which in turn have influences on JS

Do stereotypes of mental and developmental disorders predict bystander intentions in cyberbullying? An application of the stereotype content model

It was investigated whether different types of mental or developmental disorders (MDD) would be rated differently in terms of stereotypic perceptions and behavioral tendencies and whether these effects of stereotypes on behaviors would be mediated via emotional responses in line with the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). Furthermore, an experimental investigation sought to ascertain whether predictions about behavioral intentions of bystanders in a cyberbullying scenario towards a victim with MDD could be derived from the general behavioral tendencies as predicted by the SCM. Two-hundred-forty-eight undergraduate students (62% female) aged 18–35 (M = 22.5) were randomly allocated to one of five conditions (anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, Asperger’s, or control). Stereotypes, emotional, and behavioral responses, as well as bystander intentions were assessed. Results largely confirmed the general application of the SCM to MDD; however, this was not the case for bystander intentions in cyberbullying. Implications for the application of the SCM and methodological considerations are discussed

International Comparison, Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Developmental Pathways

Hauptziele der Studie waren die Identifikation (landes- bzw. kulturspezifischer) Risikofaktoren und Warnsignale für School Shootings in Deutschland sowie die Entwicklung eines Erklärungsmodells für diese Taten. Die Erkenntnisse sollten für die Ableitung gezielter und zuverlässiger Präventionsmaßnahmen genutzt werden. School Shootings weltweit wurden recherchiert, um deren Auftretenshäufigkeit sowie Tat- und Tätermerkmale bestimmen zu können. Zwischen 1966 und März 2009 fanden sich 187 Taten. School Shootings sind somit häufiger als bisher angenommen. Es ergaben sich neue Erkenntnisse zu Tat- und Tätermerkmalen. Vergleiche zeigten signifikante Unterschiede zwischen deutschen bzw. europäischen Taten und solchen in anderen Ländern bzw. Kontinenten. Daher ist gesonderte Forschung an deutschen School Shootings erforderlich. Dann wurde Leaking (Tatankündigungen) der Täter als ein zentrales Warnsignal näher analysiert. Die Daten entstammten Aktenanalyen zu sieben deutschen Tätern zwischen 1999 und 2006 und wurden Leakings von zwei Nicht-Tätern vergleichend gegenüber gestellt. Experten wurden gebeten, die Ernsthaftigkeit der Tatankündigungen zu bewerten. Kriterien aus US- amerikanischen Studien wie Detailfülle oder Konsistenz waren dafür nur bedingt geeignet. Daher wurden weitere, vor allem inhaltliche Faktoren zur Bewertung der Ernsthaftigkeit von Leaking ermittelt. Dabei fanden sich Unterschiede zwischen zwei Gruppen von Tätern hinsichtlich der Merkmale und des Verlaufs von Leaking. Schließlich wurden für die sieben deutschen Taten durch Akten- sowie Inhaltsanalysen weitere Warnsignale, Risikofaktoren und Tatmerkmale ermittelt. Dabei zeigten sich oft große Unterschiede zwischen den Tätern; ein einheitliches Täterprofil existiert nicht. Stattdessen fanden sich auch im Hinblick auf die Tatmerkmale Unterschiede zwischen den beiden oben genannten Tätergruppen. Die Risikofaktoren unterschieden sich in einigen Bereichen zudem von denen US-amerikanischer Studien. Auf Grundlage von Faktoren, die bei allen oder einer Mehrheit von mindestens fünf Tätern zu identifizieren waren, wurde ein Erklärungs- und Entwicklungsmodell für School Shootings in Deutschland abgeleitet sowie mögliche Präventionsmaßnahmen beschrieben.Main goals of the present study were the identification of country and cultural specific risk factors and warning signs for school shootings in Germany as well as the development of an explanatory model for these offences. Findings were to be utilized for the planning of effect¬i¬ve preventive mea¬su¬res. First, school shootings throughout the world were researched in order to define their fre¬quency and the characteristics of offenders and offences. Between 1966 and March 2009, 187 cases were identified. That is, school shootings are much more fre¬quent than was thought be¬fore. Thus, there were also new insights into characteristics of offen¬ces and per¬pe¬tra¬tors. Com¬pa¬ri¬sons yielded significant differences between German and Euro¬¬pean offences on the one hand and in other countries or continents on the other hand. There¬fore, research on Ger¬man offences is ne¬cessary. Second, leaking (announcements of offences) as a pivotal warning sign was analyz¬ed. Data originated from analyses of files of inquiry on se¬¬ven German offences bet¬ween 1999 and 2006 and were compared to two non-offenders. Ex¬¬perts were asked to assess the seriousness of the announcements. Criteria from US- Ameri¬can studies such as richness of detail or consistency were only partially applicable. Therefore, further criteria mainly with regard to content were identified. Differences between two groups of offenders in regard to characteristics and course of leaking emerged. Finally, further warn¬ing signs, risk factors and characteristics of the offences were identified for the seven offen¬ders in Germany. Data revealed lots of differences between single offenders. Hence, a con¬sistent profile of the school shooter does not exist. Instead, differences between the two groups of offenders could also be identified in regard to characteristics of the offences. More¬over, risk factors also differed from US-American findings in several areas. On the basis of factors which were identified in all or at least five offenders, an explanatory and develop¬men¬tal model was created and preventive measures deduced

Political and Religious Extremism and Sexual Aggression – New Perspectives from the Workshop on Aggression 2018

This focus section on extremism, radicalization, and sexual aggression presents recent research from two currently important fields of aggression research. It presents five papers that were presented at the Workshop on Aggression at the Psychologische Hochschule Berlin in 2018. The first three address risk factors for radicalization and acceptance of group-related aggressive behavior, namely hate speech against Muslims and collective violent behavior towards perceived out-groups including Jews and Ukrainians. The last two studies address sexual aggression: one examines the prevalence and risk factors for sexual victimization among a large student population in Chile; the other considers risk factors for potential sexual aggression in a German sample of participants with and without BDSM identity. The studies span a broad and international perspective on these different types of aggression, including data from Chile, Germany, and Poland and examining the potential influences of social and individual factors. The papers included in the present focus section demonstrate that both radicalization/extremism and sexual aggression are world-wide problems that require preventive action. They provide theoretical input and empirical findings that will hopefully contribute to prevention at the societal and individual levels

Long-Term Associations of Justice Sensitivity, Rejection Sensitivity, and Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents

Depressive symptoms have been related to anxious rejection sensitivity, but little is known about relations with angry rejection sensitivity and justice sensitivity. We measured rejection sensitivity, justice sensitivity, and depressive symptoms in 1,665 9-to-21-year olds at two points of measurement. Participants with high T1 levels of depressive symptoms reported higher anxious and angry rejection sensitivity and higher justice sensitivity than controls at T1 and T2. T1 rejection, but not justice sensitivity predicted T2 depressive symptoms; high victim justice sensitivity, however, added to the stabilization of depressive symptoms. T1 depressive symptoms positively predicted T2 anxious and angry rejection and victim justice sensitivity. Hence, sensitivity toward negative social cues may be cause and consequence of depressive symptoms and requires consideration in cognitive-behavioral treatment of depression

Links between Aggressive Sexual Fantasies and Presumably Non-Consensual Aggressive Sexual Behavior when Controlling for BDSM Identity

Recent research provides evidence that aggressive sexual fantasies predict aggressive sexual behavior in the general population. However, sexual fantasies including fantasies about the infliction of pain and humiliation, should be frequent and often consensually acted upon among individuals with sadomasochistic likings. The question arises whether sexual fantasies with aggressive content still predict presumably non-consensual aggressive sexual behavior in individuals with sadomasochistic likings, given that BDSM encounters are generally considered consensual. To investigate this question, we conducted a questionnaire survey of sexual fantasies, assessing the frequency of seventy sexual fantasies involving non-aggressive, masochistic, and aggressive acts. Our sample (N = 182) contained 99 respondents who self-identified as sadist, masochist, or switcher; 44 reported no such identification. For respondents reporting BDSM identification, we replicated a factor structure for sexual fantasies similar to that previously found in the general population, including three factors reflecting fantasies about increasingly severe aggressive sexual acts. Fantasies about injuring a partner and/or using weapons and fantasies about sexual coercion predicted presumably non-consensual sexual behavior independently of other risk factors for aggressive sexual behavior and irrespective of BDSM identification. Hence, severely aggressive sexual fantasies may predispose to presumably non-consensual sexual behavior in both individuals with and without BDSM identification

Interrelations of Justice, Rejection, Provocation, and Moral Disgust Sensitivity and Their Links with the Hostile Attribution Bias, Trait Anger, and Aggression

Several personality dispositions with common features capturing sensitivities to negative social cues have recently been introduced into psychological research. To date, however, little is known about their interrelations, their conjoint effects on behavior, or their interplay with other risk factors. We asked N = 349 adults from Germany to rate their justice, rejection, moral disgust, and provocation sensitivity, hostile attribution bias, trait anger, and forms and functions of aggression. The sensitivity measures were mostly positively correlated; particularly those with an egoistic focus, such as victim justice, rejection, and provocation sensitivity, hostile attributions and trait anger as well as those with an altruistic focus, such as observer justice, perpetrator justice, and moral disgust sensitivity. The sensitivity measures had independent and differential effects on forms and functions of aggression when considered simultaneously and when controlling for hostile attributions and anger. They could not be integrated into a single factor of interpersonal sensitivity or reduced to other well-known risk factors for aggression. The sensitivity measures, therefore, require consideration in predicting and preventing aggression.publishe

Linking transition to motherhood to parenting, children's emotion regulation, and life satisfaction : A longitudinal study

Previous research mostly focused on early parenting stress or postpartum symptoms of mental illness whereas the topic of a successful transition to motherhood and its long-term effects on parenting and child well-being remained more or less neglected. The present longitudinal study investigated whether a successful transition to motherhood influences emotionally warm parenting behavior, children’s emotion regulation, and subjective life satisfaction. A successful transition to motherhood is feeling satisfied, self-efficient, and energetic in the maternal role during the first year after birth. Survey data from a large, nationally representative panel study with four measurement points across 11 years were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). T1 corresponds to child’s first year of life, at T2 children were around 3, at T3 the children were around 8, and at T4 children were around 12 years old. The study sample comprised 322 mother–child dyads. Mothers completed questionnaires to assess their early transition to motherhood (T1), children’s emotion regulation (T1 and T2), and maternal warmth (T3). At age 12 (T4), children self-reported their life satisfaction. Results confirmed that a successful transition to motherhood had positive, long-term effects on maternal warmth and children’s emotion regulation. Moreover, adapting optimally to motherhood had an indirect positive effect on children’s subjective life satisfaction at age 12. Life satisfaction was in turn positively affected by maternal warmth and children’s emotion regulation. The results highlight the importance of a successful transition to motherhood for parenting, children’s emotion regulation, and life satisfaction.publishe