Affiliative and Aggressive Dimensions of Dominance and Possible Functions During Early Adolescence

• NCJ Number: 192581
• Journal: Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2002 Pages: 21-31
• Author(s): A. D. Pellegrini
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 11 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: William T. Grant Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper discusses the role of aggression and affiliation in the development and possible functions of dominance during early adolescence.

Abstract

Until recently, aggression and power-assertive behaviors have been thought to serve only a disruptive or dispersal function within social groups. Some scholars, however, have argued that in certain circumstances, aggression and physically assertive behaviors can actually foster peer affiliation. Affiliation refers to continued social attraction and interaction. Common measures of children's affiliation include peer preference, inclusion in a wider peer network, and reciprocal interaction. The constellation of physically assertive and affiliative behaviors is used by individuals as they compete with each other for access to valued resources in the early phases of group organization. As a result of a series of aversive and affiliative exchanges, hierarchies are formed. The most dominant individuals are at the top of the hierarchy and have preferred access to resources. The ethological literature emphasizes that dominance is not an end in and of itself, but must be considered in relation to resource allocation. As adolescence is marked by sexual maturity, access to heterosexual relationships (in the form of dating) should be a valued resource for those in this age group. This paper discusses the ontogeny of dominance as boys make the transition from childhood and primary school to adolescence and middle school, as determined by longitudinal research done by the author. With ethological models of dominance, aggression and affiliation was found to co-occur at different points in the development of dominance. Aggression was used in the early phases of the process and then declined. Although both aggression and affiliation predicted dating in these young adolescents, the author advises that it is crucial to understand the developmental trajectory of these factors in the romantic relationships in older adolescents and adults. 57 references