NCJ Number
207281
Journal
Prevention Researcher Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2004 Pages: 9-10
Date Published
September 2004
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This study examined the general type of aggression displayed by a sample of teen girls in their peer interactions.
Abstract
Previous Finnish and Australian studies both found that compared to boys, girls tend to display indirect aggression in conflicts with their peers. To further test these findings, the current study used focus groups and follow-up interviews with 54 randomly selected 10th-grade girls (15-16 years old) and 10 of their key teachers. Each focus group was presented with a vignette that involved a girl coming to school after having been absent the previous day. She finds that some girls have been spreading false rumors about her and are refusing to talk to her. Using the vignette as a starting point, the girls in each focus group were asked about their experiences with peer conflicts and related interventions by their schools. The most frequently reported indirect aggressive behavior by peers was talking about others to foster negative views and responses to targeted girls. Other types of indirect aggressive behavior included the passing of derogatory notes, leaving hurtful messages on desks, prank telephone calls, exclusion, and "death stares." The girls reported that being the victim of such indirect aggression was extremely distressing. Their explanations for such indirect aggression was to alleviate boredom and making the victimization of peers the context for bonding in cliques. Teachers and/or parents were not viewed by the girls as being effective in preventing various types of indirect aggression. The authors suggest peer mediation as a promising intervention. 12 references