Editorial

Citation

Ireland, J.L., Graham-Kevan, N., Davies, M. and Fry, D.P. (2012), "Editorial", Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, Vol. 4 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/jacpr.2012.55004baa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, Volume 4, Issue 2

Welcome to a further edition of the Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research (JACPR). As is the developing norm for editions, it brings together an eclectic array of papers in the area of interpersonal violence. It builds on earlier editions which have commented on bullying, trauma and forensic aggression, by focusing on contemporary and novel issues.

It is opened by an invited paper authored by Shelley McKeown and Ed Cairns on peacemaking in Northern Ireland. We felt it vital to open the edition on such a topic since the interests of JACPR are equally within the peace as well as aggression domain. Consequently, we are concentrating efforts on identifying papers which fall into this former area. Shelley McKeown and Ed Cairns review psychology-based approaches to the management of recent conflict in Northern Ireland. Its key message is that of developing approaches to increase positive communities and individual relationships. It provides a valuable insight into the re-development of conflict in societies with an entrenched history of difficulties, pointing towards the value of theory in developing effective programmes. It is followed by a focused paper presented by Gayle Brewer and Emma Whiteside on a significantly under-researched area, namely bullying and stress among staff within a prison service. This is a challenging population to secure in terms of research access and thus a paper on this topic is particularly valuable. Among the findings of interest is the damaging role played by dismissive behaviour within the workplace. Such behaviours are at risk of being under-reported and under-managed since their significance can be downplayed. The paper also fits with the findings of Bowen et al. published in an earlier edition of JACPR which highlighted the damaging role of Workplace Incivility of which dismissive behaviours would form part. What is interesting in the current paper is the negative impact that witnessing such dismissive behaviours can have. The role of witnesses can be a neglected one, with perhaps an over-focus on victims and/or perpetrators.

Remaining within the topic of bullying, a paper is then presented by Stephen James Minton on Alterophobic Bullying and Pro-conformist Aggression. Whereas the preceding paper examined an under-researched population, this paper examines a popular sample for researchers but a very novel topic. It is the first paper to explore “alterphobic” bullying, defined as “prejudice directed towards members of alternative sub-cultures […] goths, punks, emos, skaters and fans of heavy metal”. The topic falls comfortably in the domain of prejudice research but with a novel application, with the author arguing for more integration with aggression research. It highlights the value in exploring this topic in more detail. Indeed, since such cultures are so ingrained within youth populations, there is a need for specific research on this topic and, as outlined by the author, a drive to include these issues more explicitly within policy.

Moving away from bullying but remaining within the area of attitudes is a paper presented by Kerry Ferguson and Carol Ireland on attitudes towards victims and perpetrators presented within hypothetical rape scenarios. Although this paper may seem a more common article within the vast area of attitudes towards sex offences, its focus is on the less explored topic of alcohol intoxication across both perpetrators and victims, and a role for ambivalent sexism. It notes implications regarding understanding legal decision making in rape cases and highlights some factors which may prevent the disclosure of acquaintance rape by victims. Perceptions of victims were influenced by their use of alcohol and also ambivalent sexism, thus highlighting the subtle factors which inform negative attitudes and reduced empathy towards victims.

An appropriate paper to end on is one describing a troubling consequence of exposure to the negative behaviours described in the preceding papers (e.g. conflict, bullying, sexual violence). Thus, a paper on trauma is presented by Rachel Worthington. The paper challenges readers to look beyond the more commonly considered overt reactions to trauma (e.g. stress, illness, anger, etc.) to more subtle and less readily identified reactions, namely neurological and an impact on information processing. The value in this paper is not just in its helpful review of the area but also on its presentation of a therapeutic approach which is developing an increasing base of support from clinicians and researchers – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). The paper provides a clear example of where a therapeutic approach can be linked directly to academic theory. It further posits how a trauma therapy approach such as EMDR may have application to more traditional aggression therapy, particularly with regards to reducing arousal and more impulsive behaviours. It is a paper which is particularly in keeping with the aim of JACPR – namely the presentation of academic literature which has a real-life application.

Jane L. Ireland, Nicola Graham-Kevan, Michelle Davies, Douglas P. Fry