Abstract
A teacher rating scale of reactive aggression, proactive aggression, and covert antisocial behavior was evaluated in a normative sample of third- to fifth-grade predominantly white lower middle class boys (N= 186). Factor analysis revealed independent and internally consistent Reactive Aggression (six reactive items), and Proactive Aggression (five proactive items, five covert items) factors. Although the factors were intercorrelated (r= .67), and each factor was significantly correlated with negative peer social status (r= .26 for each, controlling for grade), the independence of the factors was supported by the unique relation of Reactive Aggression with in-school detentions (r= .31), controlling for Proactive Aggression and grade. These results supported the reliability and validity of Reactive and Proactive Aggression as rated by teachers, which should facilitate further research of these constructs.
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Brown, K., Atkins, M.S., Osborne, M.L. et al. A revised teacher rating scale for Reactive and Proactive Aggression. J Abnorm Child Psychol 24, 473–480 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01441569
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01441569