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The role of adolescence in geographic variation in violent aggression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2017

Abigail A. Marsh*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057. aam72@georgetown.eduwww.abigailmarsh.com

Abstract

In explaining variation in violent aggression across populations, the age structures of those populations must be considered. Adolescents between the ages of 15 and 25 are disproportionately responsible for violent aggression in every society, and increases in violence tend to follow population “youth bulges.” Large numbers of adolescents in equatorial regions may account for observed relationships between geography and violence.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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