Predicting adolescents’ decisions about fighting: A test of the theory of planned behavior

This investigation examines the ability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict and explain adolescents’ decisions to engage in physical aggression. Three hundred and fifty‐nine seventh‐grade boys and girls enrolled in two public junior high schools in a large Midwestern city completed a survey assessing components of the TPB as they related to the behavior under investigation. Contrary to predictions made by the TPB, subjective norms was not a significant predictor of behavioral intent. Consistent with the TPB, attitudes and perceived behavioral control predicted behavioral intent, and behavioral intent and perceived behavioral control predicted behavior. No gender differences were observed for the five variables under investigation or in the fit of the model. Implications for the TPB and for the development of youth violence prevention and intervention programs are discussed.