A PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF AGGRESSION AND CONFLICT-RESOLUTION BEHAVIOR IN BLACK ADOLESCENT MALES

Abstract

The present study tests the effectiveness of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) and an adaptation of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) to differentiate between aggressive and nonaggressive inner city Black adolescent males. The CTS provided measures of conflict-resolution behavior toward “others” except siblings and parents; the adapted version of the BDHI provided measures of aggression toward “friends” and “strangers”. The sample consisted of 83 males, ranging in age from 12 to 17 with a mean age of 13.9 years, who were classified as institutionalized aggressive subjects, noninstitutionalized aggressive subjects, and noninstitutionalized nonaggressive subjects on the basis of their behavior before the CTS and adapted version of the BDHI were administered. The results indicated that the adapted version of the BDHI discriminated between the aggressive and nonaggressive subjects as well as institutionalized and noninstitutionalized subjects. The results showed that the verbal physical aggression scales of the CTS differentiated between the institutionalized aggressive and noninstitutionalized nonaggressive subjects. Positive correlations were obtained between the CTS and subscales of the adapted version of the BDHI The results indicated that the scales may be useful for assessing aggression and conflict-resolution behaviour among inner-city Black adolescent males.