Ego Identity and Relational and Social Aggression Mediated by Elaborative and Deep Processing

• NCJ Number: 245173
• Journal: International Journal of Criminology and Sociology Volume: 1 Dated: 2012 Pages: 98-108
• Author(s): Jared B. Kolbert; Laura M. Crothers; Gibbs Y. Kanyongo; Helena K.Y. Ng; Charles M. Albright; Eric Fenclau; Ara J. Schmitt; Daniel Wells
• Date Published: 2012
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This study investigated late adolescents' ego identity status, cognitive processing style and the use of relational and social aggression.

Abstract

In this investigation, late adolescents' (N = 629) ego identity status (e.g., identity achievement, identity diffusion, identity moratorium, and identity foreclosure), cognitive processing style, and self-reported use of relational aggression and social aggression were measured in order to assess potential relationships among these constructs. Four separate models were used to test these hypotheses, and the results showed support for some but not all the four hypotheses. In this sample, it appears that individuals with high levels of cognitive sophistication who lack social maturity by which to resolve relationship problems were more likely to use social aggression than those with lower levels of cognitive processing skills or with higher levels of emotional maturity. (Published Abstract)