Citation

Wright MR. Int. J. Behav. Devel. 1989; 12(4): 473-484.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/016502548901200404

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A total of 396 15-16-year-old boys and girls were interviewed about their experiences of physical and verbal aggression in their peer group, the circumstances in which aggression had occurred, the perceived reasons for and functions of the aggressive behaviour, and their own responses to it. Clear-cut sex differences were found in most respects, especially in the case of physical aggression. It was assumed that girls experience more internal conflicts than boys in relation to the expression/inhibition of aggression, and that they hence analyse the function of aggressive behaviour in a more differentiated manner than boys do. The results were consistent with this assumption. The subjects were also asked how they would respond to (specified) frustrating situations. Aggressive modes of coping were associated with (self-reported) participation in peer-group fights, aggressive responses to such fights and to verbal aggression, and with the belief that aggressive actions are valued by peers.

Language: en