Socioemotional competences & perception of the community vs the aggressive behavior in adolescents living in risky environments

Abstract

According to international statistics, Latin America young people are shown concerned by the violence climate in their communities. This paper seeks to identify the role of socioemotional competences as a protection factor against aggressive behaviors in young people. 970 middle school students which inhabit in a context of psychosocial risk were inquired. The results showed that risk perception seems to have bigger impact in men, keeping its predictive level, even when it controls socioemotional capabilities, unlike women. These findings are discussed at the light of other studies in which vulnerability of male sector against communitarian violence is highlighted. Likewise, anger management’s role, interpersonal capabilities and the formation of a positive mood with the aim of suggesting social actions targeted towards violence reduction are pointed out.