Phenotypic Variations in Violence Involvement: Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

Abstract

Numerous studies suggest that our society is stratified not only by race and class, but also by phenotypic characteristics. The main objective of the present investigation was, using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, to elucidate the link between phenotype and violence involvement. Two outcomes were examined: being a perpetrator of violence and criminal justice system contact. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on Asian, black and Hispanic respondents and as well as on the subsample of siblings. Independent variables included phenotype, socioeconomic status, other family, peer and neighborhood effects. Notwithstanding a certain degree of heterogeneity of outcomes across race-ethnicity, the results indicate a negative relationship between proximity to the European phenotype and the likelihood of violence involvement. In other words, the darker one's complexion, eye and hair color, the higher the likelihood of violence involvement.

The Phenotypic, Psychological, and Social Interplays of Skin Color and Developmental Outcomes among Mexican‐origin Adolescents

“…As for colorism and adolescents’ adjustment, darker skin color has been linked to indices of adolescents’ well‐being, including greater depressive symptoms (Louie, 2020), lower self‐esteem (Landor, Gordon Simons, Granberg, & Melby, 2019), and greater externalizing behaviors, such as aggression (Calzada et al., 2019) and violence (Ryabov, 2017). Thus, the role of skin color in these adjustment outcomes may be a result of a traumatic stress response to colorist incidents.…”

“…It is often associated with social position factors that expose youth to systems of oppressions. In a series of cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses with nationally representative youth in the US, darker‐skinned African, Asian, and Hispanic youth exhibited more violent behaviors than their lighter‐skinned peers within the same race/ethnicity (Ryabov, 2017). There is evidence that darker‐skinned youth are more susceptible to phenotypic discrimination, more likely to be victims of violence themselves, more exposed to delinquent peers, and have fewer opportunities to build strong prosocial connections than their lighter‐skinned peers (Ryabov, 2017; Thornberry et al., 2003).…”

“…In a series of cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses with nationally representative youth in the US, darker‐skinned African, Asian, and Hispanic youth exhibited more violent behaviors than their lighter‐skinned peers within the same race/ethnicity (Ryabov, 2017). There is evidence that darker‐skinned youth are more susceptible to phenotypic discrimination, more likely to be victims of violence themselves, more exposed to delinquent peers, and have fewer opportunities to build strong prosocial connections than their lighter‐skinned peers (Ryabov, 2017; Thornberry et al., 2003). Similarly, Mexican‐origin youth have a relatively higher level of delinquency than non‐Latino youth, including violence, property offenses, alcohol and drug consumption, and bringing weapons to school (Bird et al., 2001; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2020; Felson & Kreager, 2015; O'Gara, Calzada, & Kim, 2020).…”