Relational and overt aggression in preschool.

Abstract

This research was designed as an initial attempt to assess relational aggression in preschool-age children. Our goal was to develop reliable measures of relational aggression for young children and to use these instruments to address several important issues (e.g., the relation between this form of aggression and social-psychological adjustment). Results provide evidence that relationally aggressive behaviors appear in children's behavioral repertoires at relatively young ages, and that these behaviors can be reliably distinguished from overtly aggressive behaviors in preschool-age children. Further, findings indicate that preschool girls are significantly more relationally aggressive and less overtly aggressive than preschool boys. Finally, results show that relational aggression is significantly related to social-psychological maladjustment (e.g., peer rejection) for both boys and girls.

Cites (2)

1. A review and reformulation of social information-processing mechanisms in children's social adjustment
   Crick, Nicki R., Dodge, Kenneth A. · 1994 · Psychological Bulletin
2. Child/adolescent behavioral and emotional problems: Implications of cross-informant correlations for situational specificity.
   Achenbach, Thomas M., McConaughy, Stephanie H., Howell, Catherine T. · 1987 · Psychological Bulletin

Show all 2 references

Cited by (45)

1. Peer Interactions, Relationships, and Groups
   Rubin, Kenneth H., Bukowski, William M., Parker, Jeffrey G. · 2007 · Handbook of Child Psychology
2. Direct and Indirect Aggression During Childhood and Adolescence: A Meta-Analytic Review of Gender Differences, Intercorrelations, and Relations to Maladjustment
   Card, Noel A, Stucky, Brian D, Sawalani, Gita M, Little, Todd D · 2008 · Child Development
3. Sex Differences in Aggression in Real-World Settings: A Meta-Analytic Review
   Archer, John · 2004 · Review of General Psychology
4. Cyberbullying: An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Related to Offending and Victimization
   Hinduja, Sameer, Patchin, Justin W. · 2008 · Deviant Behavior
5. Preschool emotional competence: Pathway to social competence?
   Denham, Susanne A, Blair, Kimberly A, DeMulder, Elizabeth, Levitas, Jennifer, Sawyer, Katherine, Auerbach–Major, Sharon, Queenan, Patrick · 2003 · Child Development

See all 880