Date of Award

5-7-2022

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Department

Social Work

First Advisor

RachelCasey, Ph.D., MSW;

Second Advisor

Donna Wampole, DSW, LCSW

Third Advisor

LoriGramlich, LMSW

Keywords

Social Work, Political Attitudes, Outward Aggression, Self-Directed Violence, suicide, suicidal behavior

Abstract

Violence has increased at political events and marches in the last several years, particularly during the Trump presidency and marked by the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Research has been conducted on approval of political violence, but little is known about political attitudes and how they relate to the likelihood of engaging in everyday generulized violence. Furthermore, violence against others and violence against the self, such as suicide, are usually treated and studied separately. This study hopes to identify what relationships, if any, exist between political attitudes and violence, both outward and self-directed. Participants (N : 153) completed a quantitative anonymous questionnaire distributed online through Reddit, with the majority of respondents being white and male. Data indicates a strong association between outward aggression and suicidal behavior, with additional associations between self-directed violence and two individual political attitudes. Discussion of implications for social work policy implementation and practice include viewing suicidal behavior as violence, policy related to violence risk and gun ownership, and seeking an increased understanding of political attitudes as they relate to violence among clients.

Comments

URSUS Link: http://ursus.maine.edu/record=b9703776

OCLC # 1373633575

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