Aggression Behavior aimed at harming others Categories of
• Aggression: Behavior aimed at harming others
Categories of Aggressive Behavior • Hostile Aggression – Goal is to harm or injure a victim (physically, psychologically, or by destroying work/property)
• Instrumental Aggression – Goal is to gain access to objects, space, or privileges • Ex: Knocking a child over and taking a toy away
Developmental Trends in Aggression • Conflicts between infants over objects are common between 12 and 18 months, but most do not involve aggression • At around 18 months of age, physical aggression begins and increases in frequency until about age 2 or 3 – Exs: hitting, pushing
• Beginning at about 3 years, physical aggression decreases and verbal aggression increases (as language skills increase) – Exs: insults, taunting
• During the preschool years (3 -5), conflict over possessions is one of the most common causes of aggression – Typically instrumental aggression • Preschoolers sometimes also use relational aggression (one type of verbal aggression) – Intent to harm others by damaging their peer relations • Ex: excluding peers from a play activity or group
Stability of Aggression • Aggression is moderately stable over time
• Factors Related to Individual Differences in Aggression in Young Children – Temperament • Infants and toddlers who are high in distress and demanding are more likely to have higher levels of problem behaviors from the preschool years on • Preschoolers who are high in activity level, high in distress, and low in attention span/persistence are more likely to show aggressive behavior and other problem behaviors later in life
– Parental punitiveness • Frequent harsh (but nonabusive) physical punishment is related to problem behaviors including aggression – Especially true if parents are also low in sensitivity/ responsiveness and use other forms of power-assertive discipline frequently » Form of discipline in which an adult relies on his/her greater power over the child Ex: physical punishment; statements like “Because I said so!”
– Parental Conflict • Children exposed to frequent verbal conflict and/or physical violence between parents are more likely to show aggressive behavior, especially if: – Parents attack each other and then withdraw (no resolution) – Parental conflict affects parenting behavior negatively— parents are less sensitive/responsive to children
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