Violence De-Mystified: Findings on Violence by Young Males in the Pittsburgh Youth Study

This article summarizes key findings from the Pittsburgh Youth Study (PYS), a longitudinal study that was started by Rolf Loeber and Magda Stouthamer-Loeber in collaboration with David P. Farrington in 1987. A systematic school sample was formed of 1,517 boys, spread over Grades 1, 4, and 7 (average ages 7, 10, and 13). The youngest and oldest cohorts were regularly followed up for more than 2 decades, until ages 28 and 35, respectively. For the youngest cohort there were 13 consecutive follow-ups between ages 7 and 19, and then again at ages 25 and 28. The oldest cohort was followed up every year from age 13 to 25 (13 waves), and then again at age 35. This article reports on the surprisingly high prevalence of violence committed by the young men, their experience as victims of violence, and their developmental pathways leading up to violence and homicide. We review the developmental sequences between substance use and violence, and summarise findings on the predictors of violence and homicide, particularly potentially modifiable risk factors, many of which were measured in late childhood. Implications for early intervention are discussed.