Aggression + Bullying (Week 5)

Question 1

Instrumental/Proactive Aggression

Answer 1

Used to help the child get something he or she wants.

Cool and deliberate.

This type of aggression is more often relational.

• Ex. A younger child hits another child to get a toy or pushes the other child off a swing in order to use it; an older child bullies a classmate to achieve the goal of increased social power.

Question 2

Reactive Aggression

Answer 2

Hostile and impulsive.

Used to hurt someone else.

Occurs in response to a threat, attack, or frustration.

This type of aggression is more often physical.

• Ex. a child hits another child who has just insulted them or calls the other child a bad name.

Question 3

Physical Aggression

Answer 3

Involves inflicting physical damage or discomfort on another person.

• More common in boys.
• 80% of toddlers use physical aggression.

Question 4

Verbal Aggression

Answer 4

Using words to inflict pain.

Threats of physical aggression.

• Ex. yelling, insulting, ridiculing, humiliating, thretening, name-calling, arguing, and teasing.

Question 5

Relational/Social Aggression

Answer 5

Damage to social relationships.

Behaviour that is intended to harm someone by damaging or manipulating their relationships with others.

Inconsistent gender differences.

• Ex. spreading rumours, silent treatment, social exclusion, etc.

Question 6

Moffitt’s Developmental Theory of Crime

Answer 6

Life course persistent:

• Engage in antisocial behaviours for long periods of time.

Adolescent-limited.

• Few problems in childhood and unlikely to continue antisocial behaviour in adulthood.

Question 7

Proactive and Reactive Aggression Towards Siblings vs. Peers (Presentation)

Answer 7

Findings:

• Stability: Both proactive and reactive sibling aggression remain stable over a 6-month period.
• Comparison to Peer Aggression: Sibling aggression occurs more frequently than peer aggression.
• Emotional Impact: Reactive aggression (but not proactive) is associated with anxiety and depression.
• Peer aggression has a stronger link to internalizing symptoms than sibling aggression.

Research Goals

• Assess the stability of sibling proactive and reactive aggression.
• Compare rates of aggression between siblings and peers.
• Examine links between sibling aggression and anxiety/depression symptoms in children.

Implications

• Clinical Relevance: While sibling aggression is common, peer aggression is a stronger predictor of emotional distress.
• Intervention: Early intervention for sibling aggression may be beneficial, as it tends to persist over time.
• Future Research: Further studies needed on how sibling aggression influences later peer aggression and emotional health.

Study Details

• Participants: 3rd-5th graders in a Midwestern U.S. community.
• Method: Self-reported surveys on aggression and emotional symptoms.