Which of the following is most commonly identified as the predominant trigger for violent acts on college campuses?

• A. Financial stress related to tuition and living expenses
• B. Academic pressure from exams and assignments
• C. Exposure to media violence
• D. Interpersonal conflicts such as arguments or relationship issues

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question, which asks about the predominant trigger for violent acts on college campuses. This means identifying the most common cause among the options provided.
2. Step 2: Review research findings in psychology and campus safety studies that analyze causes of violence in college settings. These studies often categorize triggers into financial stress, academic pressure, media exposure, and interpersonal conflicts.
3. Step 3: Recognize that while financial stress, academic pressure, and media violence can contribute to stress or aggression, empirical evidence shows that interpersonal conflicts, such as arguments or relationship issues, are most frequently linked to violent incidents on campuses.
4. Step 4: Consider the psychological mechanisms behind this: interpersonal conflicts often involve emotional arousal, misunderstandings, and direct confrontations, which can escalate into violence more readily than other stressors.
5. Step 5: Conclude that among the options, interpersonal conflicts are identified as the predominant trigger for violent acts on college campuses based on psychological research and campus violence reports.