Relational and Overt Aggression in Preschool

Authors

Nikki R. Crick, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Juan F. Casas, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Monique Mosher, California School of Professional Psychology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1997

Publication Title

Developmental Psychology

Volume

33

Issue

4

First Page

5779

Last Page

588

Abstract

This research was designed as an initial attempt to assess relational aggression in preschool-age children. Our goal was to develop reliable measures of relational aggression for young children and to use these instruments to address several important issues (e.g., the relation between this form of aggression and social–psychological adjustment). Results provide evidence that relationally aggressive behaviors appear in children's behavioral repertoires at relatively young ages, and that these behaviors can be reliably distinguished from overtly aggressive behaviors in preschool-age children. Further, findings indicate that preschool girls are significantly more relationally aggressive and less overtly aggressive than preschool boys. Finally, results show that relational aggression is significantly related to social–psychological maladjustment (e.g., peer rejection) for both boys and girls.

Comments

© 1997 American Psychological Association.

This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record. The final version can be found at https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.33.4.579

Recommended Citation

Crick, Nikki R.; Casas, Juan F.; and Mosher, Monique, "Relational and Overt Aggression in Preschool" (1997). Psychology Faculty Publications. 88.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/psychfacpub/88