Differentiating Forms and Functions of Aggression in Emerging Adults: Associations With Hostile Attribution Biases and Normative Beliefs

• NCJ Number: 223100
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 6 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 713-722
• Author(s): Christopher A. Bailey; Jamie M. Ostrov
• Date Published: July 2008
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study distinguished the forms (physical and relational) and functions (proactive and reactive) of aggression in "emerging adults" (mean age of 19.05 years) in relation to participants' attitudes and beliefs about norms for acceptable aggressive behavior.

Abstract

Regarding gender difference for physical aggression, men reported significantly higher levels of acceptability for both proactive and reactive physical aggression than women. Contrary to predictions, however, there were no significant gender differences for functions of relational aggression (i.e., damage or threat of damage to friendly interactions or any interactions with a person or persons). This finding may be explained by older adolescent men having learned that more covert aggressive behaviors have less social and legal costs compared to physical aggression. Future research is needed to test this theory, as well as whether relational aggression, compared to physical aggression, is more characteristic of women than men at an earlier age. Impulsivity was linked with all subtypes of aggression. In addition, there was an association between all aggression subtypes and normative beliefs about circumstances and scenarios that warrant proactive and reactive violence. These findings emphasize the need for intervention and prevention efforts that target functions as well as forms of aggressive behavior across childhood and adolescent development. Hostile attribution biases--i.e., attitudes and beliefs that justify aggression of any form against persons and groups with particular physical or belief characteristics--should be a particular focus for preventive intervention. An ethnically diverse group of 165 emerging adults completed a battery of self-report instruments that measured aggression and social behavior, impulsiveness, attributions of aggressive intent in various scenarios, and normative beliefs associated with subtypes of aggression. 3 tables, 50 references, and appended examples from the Normative Beliefs of Subtypes of Aggression Scale