Psychology Journal, 2012 ISSN: 1931-5694 Vol. 9, No. 1 www.psychologicalpublishing.com pp. 2-12 © 2012 Psychological Publishing Violence Related Attitudes, Horizontal Individualism And Collectivism in Young Mexicans Francisco A. Laca* University of Colima Juan Carlos Mejía University of the Basque Country Edwin G. Mayoral University of Colima Claudia L. Yáñez University of Colima *Francisco A. Laca; Faculty of Psychology; University of Colima; Av. Universidad 333; Colonia Las Víboras, 28040, Mexico; francisco_laca@ucol.mx (email). ABSTRACT - The present article addresses attitudes about how to manage violent behaviors: prevention or punishment, in a sample (N = 145) of young Mexicans (89 males, 56 females). The cultural dimensions of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism were taken as possible criteria to link violence related attitudes. We found a tendency toward horizontal individualism and collectivism as expected by the hypotheses. Limitations and future directions are discussed. esearchers and prevention specialists are under pressure to recognize the factors that situate young people at risk for violence, to find out which interventions are effective, and to plan more successful prevention programs. To prevent violence, it is essential to know the violence related attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and other influences (Dahlberg, Toal, Swahn, & Behrens, 2005). Attitudes about the value of prevention or punishment of violent behavior depend on one’s beliefs about the causes of human violence. Beliefs that causes of violence are biological, as inherited traits or mental illness, may lead to favor punishment over prevention. Similarly, beliefs that violent behavior is learned in tough social and familiar environments, would lead to favor prevention and rehabilitation (Brand & Anastasio, 2006). Attitudes may predict in some degree how the subject will deal with a situation. People tend to think that their attitudes about a lot of social issues, for example, about punishment and retaliation of violent behaviors, or their prevention and rehabilitation, are largely ideological. In our western societies, with its left-right political spectrum, left is identified as liberalism and right is recognized as conservatism. Despite the popularity of this left-right political dimension, it is not at all clear that attitudes about social issues can be summarized in terms of political ideologies (Ashton et al., 2005). Rigid adherence to social norms and punishment of deviants and offenders are at the R