Aggressive Behaviors in Social Interaction and Developmental Adaptation: A Narrative Analysis of Interpersonal Conflicts During Early Adolescence

Abstract

Using conflict narratives reported by adolescents in grade 7 (mean age = 13.4 years), this study investigated the interactional properties and developmental functions of four types of aggressive behaviors: social aggression, direct relational aggression, physical aggression, and verbal aggression. A total of 475 participants from the Carolina Longitudinal Study (Cairns & Cairns, 1994) were included. Results showed that the majority of conflict interactions involved more than a dyad. The use of social aggression (e.g., concealed social attack) was associated with more individuals involved in the conflict. Social aggression was primarily reported as an initiating behavior for interpersonal conflicts, while direct relational aggression was a responding behavior. Medium to high levels of reciprocity were found for physical, verbal, and direct relational aggression, whereas a low level of reciprocity was reported for social aggression. School authorities were most likely to intervene in physical aggression. The use of social aggression was associated with higher network centrality among adolescents. Developmental maladjustment in late adolescence and early adulthood was primarily predicted by physical aggression.

Bullying and Substance Use in Children and Adolescents

“…This style of bullying almost always occurs indirectly and takes the victim by surprise. Due to the indirect manner of the bullying experienced, the victim is likely to feel especially demoralized and unable to fight back against the bully, as he or she has lost social support and may not even know which individual is responsible for instigating the aggression [34]. Due to the indirect nature of social aggression, efforts to gather the specific rates of the behavior are difficult.…”

Applying Depression-Distortion Hypotheses to the Assessment of Peer Victimization in Adolescents

“…For instance, relational aggression is one form of indirect aggression that uses a relationship (i.e., the friendship) as a weapon to harm others (e.g., by withdrawing friendship support or ignoring; Crick & Grotpeter, 1995;Galen & Underwood, 1997). Other forms of indirect aggression (i.e., reputational) involve attempts to damage a victim's social reputation within the peer group hierarchy (e.g., by telling gossip or rumors, enlisting others to dislike a peer; Hart et al, 2001;Prinstein & Cillessen, 2003;Xie, Swift, Cairns, & Cairns, 2002).…”

Measures of Aggression in Young Korean Children: A Review of 10 Years of Empirical Research

“…Only the CBCL was rated by parents, while all other measures were rated by teachers This implies that research findings on aggressive behaviors in Korea reflect perceptions, opinions, and beliefs of teachers rather than those of parents. Considering that aggressive behaviors often occur in social interactions [8], it may be difficult for parents to observe children's aggressive behaviors against peers. For this reason, teacher's rating could be an appropriate way to identify both relational and overt types of aggression.…”

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