Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio cualitativo sobre las representaciones sociales de la violencia en jóvenes chilenos que han estado involucrados en violencia. A partir del análisis de datos obtenidos de entrevistas que dan cuenta de su experiencia subjetiva, se construyó un modelo conceptual sobre sus representaciones sociales que identifica elementos que favorecen o inhiben las acciones violentas. Los resultados muestran dos tipos de factores involucrados en la transgresión del "límite de la violencia": características personales y elementos de contexto. Respecto de los elementos contextuales, se distingue el contexto temporal (el momento de la violencia) del contexto espacial (el lugar de la violencia). Además, los jóvenes participantes de este estudio establecen una relación entre sus acciones violentas y la percepción de amenaza, especialmente respecto de su identidad social. En esta relación, la función de las acciones de violencia es neutralizar esta amenaza. Esta comprensión constituye el núcleo de su representación social de la violencia. Se discuten las implicancias para estrategias preventivas e intervenciones comunitarias.    This paper presents the results of a qualitative study on the social representation of violence among young Chileans who have been involved in violence. Starting from interview-data that show their subjective perspective, a conceptual model of their social representation is constructed that identifies elements that favor or inhibit the violent actions. Results show two types of factors involved in the transgression of the "limit of violence": personal characteristics and contextual elements, making the distinction between the temporal context (the moment of violence) and the spatial context (the place of violence). In addition, the young participants of this study establish a relationship between their violent actions and the perception of threat, especially regarding their social identity. In this relationship, the function of violent actions is the neutralization of this threat. This understanding constitutes the nucleus of their social representation of violence. Implications for preventive strategies and community interventions are discussed. This work presents the results of a qualitative study on the social representation of violence among young Chileans who have been involved in violence. Starting from interview-data that show their subjective perspective, a conceptual model of their social representation is constructed that identifies elements that favor or inhibit the violent actions. Results show that these young people’s social representations of violence include two types of factors involved in the transgression of the “limit of violence”: personal characteristics and contextual elements, making the distinction between the temporal context (the moment of violence) and the spatial context (the place of violence). With regard to these contextual elements, the subjective meaning is more important than the moments or places by themselves. In addition, the young participants of this study establish a relationship between their violent actions and the perception of threat, especially regarding their social identity. In this relationship, the function of violent actions is the neutralization of this threat. This understanding constitutes the nucleus of their social representation of violence. Implications for community interventions are discussed. [1] This research received financial support from Fundación Paz Ciudadana, Chile.