“What’s going on here?” Cognitive processes linking neighborhood contexts to individual violence involvement

Even in the most violent neighbourhoods, the vast majority of residents do not engage in violence, and those who do typically do for a short time. Even under the most adverse conditions, people possess agency to make choices that either increase or decrease their likelihood of engaging in violence. What exactly are the cognitive processes that mediate the influence of social conditions on behaviour? 

To answer this question, the presenters draw on in-depth interviews with 99 young men from Chicago’s South and West Sides, all of whom participated in the Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI). The randomized controlled trial of READI, while not as statistically precise as one might desire, yielded a point estimate indicating a 65% reduction in shooting and homicide arrests (Bhatt et al. 2024). Presenters’ findings reveal three key cognitive processes that shape how individuals respond to their environments in ways that can perpetuate or mitigate violent outcomes. The findings suggest that such cognitive processes are not only identifiable but also modifiable through targeted interventions.

This seminar presentation is jointly hosted by RegNet and and , College of Arts and Social Sciences, ANU.

About the speakers

Based at Princeton University,  is one of the USA’s leading poverty researchers. A qualitative and mixed-method researcher, she has taken on key mysteries about the urban poor that have not been fully answered by quantitative work: How do single mothers possibly survive on welfare? Why don’t more go to work? Why do they end up as single mothers in the first place? The hallmark of her research is her direct, in-depth observations of the lives of low-income women, men, and children. Kathryn has authored 8 books and some 60 journal articles. $2 a Day: The Art of Living on Virtually Nothing in America, co-authored with Luke Shaefer, was met with wide critical acclaim.

Also based at Princeton University, is the author of numerous articles on low-income fathers and is the co-author, with Kathryn, of the book Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City, published in 2013 by the University of California Press. Currently, Timothy is working on a book with Kathryn and Laura Lein (University of Michigan) on the work and child support experiences of 440 low-income fathers interviewed across four metropolitan areas: Philadelphia, Charleston, SC, Austin and San Antonio.  

Kathryn and Timothy’s 2023 book, The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America, is a sweeping, immersive, and in-depth study of the poorest places in America and the legacy of raw, intensive resource extraction and human exploitation.

COVID protocols

The 91��Ƶstrongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ACT government’s COVID Smart behaviours can be accessed .

This seminar presentation is a dual-delivery event. Registration is not required for in-person attendance as neither the 91��Ƶnor ACT Health conduct contact tracing.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Photo of Chicago Theater lit up at night by , from , free to use under . Theatre signboard proclaims Chicago Loop Association's 'Everyone's neighbourhood' slogan.