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Differentiating Forms and Functions of Aggression in Emerging Adults: Associations with Hostile Attribution Biases and Normative Beliefs

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to extend the current literature on forms (i.e., physical and relational) and functions (i.e., proactive and reactive) of participants’ cognitions and beliefs about aggressive behavior. Participants included an ethnically diverse group of emerging adults (N = 165; M = 19.05 years; SD = 1.55) and completed a battery of self-report instruments. Gender differences for subtypes of physical aggression were found. Impulsivity was associated with all subtypes of aggression. Results showed that reactive physical aggression was uniquely associated with hostile attribution biases for instrumental provocation situations. Reactive relational aggression was uniquely associated with hostile attribution biases for relational provocation scenarios. Findings indicated links between self-reported subtypes of aggressive behavior and normative beliefs of aggression. Ways in which this study extends the extant literature are discussed.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Maureen Ballin, Christa Bishop, Audra Foote, Stephanie Godleski, Stacey Lampell, Kristen Muth, Becca Trager, Alyssa Tevens, and many other undergraduate and graduate students for their assistance with the collection, coding and data entry on this project. We thank Dr. Rebecca J. Houston for her assistance with this project. We thank Drs. J. Gayle Beck, Jennifer P. Read and Gretchen B. Sechrist for comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. We acknowledge the students who participated in this study.

This project was conducted in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Science with High Honors degree by the first author under the direction of the second author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Developmental Electrophysiology Lab of the Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Christopher A. Bailey

  2. Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260-4110, USA

    Jamie M. Ostrov

Authors
  1. Christopher A. Bailey
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  2. Jamie M. Ostrov
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Correspondence to Jamie M. Ostrov.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Examples from the Normative Beliefs of Subtypes of Aggression Scale (NBSAS)

Directions: The following questions ask you about whether you think certain behaviors are WRONG or are OK. Using the scale below, write the answer that best describes what you think. Write the appropriate number in the blank provided. Please choose only ONE answer for each question.

 

IT’S REALLY WRONG

IT’S SORT OF WRONG

IT’S SORT OF OK

IT’S REALLY OK

1

2

3

4

7. ____ John spreads rumors (e.g., gossip) about a peer to maintain his social status (Proactive relational aggression)

8. ____ John pushes a peer in response to being threatened by that peer (Reactive physical aggression)

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Bailey, C.A., Ostrov, J.M. Differentiating Forms and Functions of Aggression in Emerging Adults: Associations with Hostile Attribution Biases and Normative Beliefs. J Youth Adolescence 37, 713–722 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9211-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9211-5

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