A cross-cultural psychology perspective on youth interpersonal aggression

Adolescent aggression arises within developmental, cognitive, and emotional mechanisms embedded in cultural contexts that define which behaviors are acceptable and how they are sanctioned. Cross-cultural psychology provides critical insights into how values such as honor, collectivism, and relational harmony shape the forms and meanings of aggression, influencing developmental pathways toward partner maltreatment and violence (PM/V). This review synthesizes recent findings (2020-2025) on parenting, peer norms, cognition, and digital contexts to identify culturally responsive intervention levers. Evidence shows that warmth and open communication protect against aggression across settings, but discipline, peer dynamics, and digital practices vary by culture. Effective prevention must integrate developmental and cultural frameworks, ensuring that early interventions address the family, peer, and digital ecologies that sustain aggression and its potential continuity into adult relationships.