Citation

Ljungberg T, Horowitz L, Jansson L, Westlund K, Clarke C. Aggressive Behav. 2005; 31(4): 303-323.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, International Society for Research on Aggression, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Affifiative interactions between former opponents soon after a conflict, in non-human primates and pre-school children, have been documented to be followed by a reduction of future aggression and stress reactions, and to promote tolerance between individuals. The phenomenon has, therefore, been called reconciliation. Studies of non-human primates have shown that the conflict cause, can influence the reconciliatory outcome, and whether the aggressor or the victim of the aggression is more likely to take the initiative to reconcile, can differ between species. Few studies in pre-school children have addressed how factors preceding the post-conflict period, such as social interactions before the conflict outbreak, or the cause of the conflict, may be related to the likelihood of reconciliation, conflict progression, and conflict outcome in the form of possible continuation or initiation of interactions. Twenty boys were video-recorded during free-play at six pre-schools. The existence of social interaction between the opponents in the upcoming conflict was examined in the pre-conflict period. The observed causes of conflict were determined and classified into five categories. The affiliative behaviors identified in the post-conflict period were classified into six categories. Finally, whether or not conflicts were followed by communicative exchanges in the succeeding non-conflict period was documented. The results revealed that the cause of the conflict is associated with whether opponents had established social interaction prior to conflict in the pre-conflict period. Acceptance rates (for the various categories of affiliative behaviors) appeared to differ. A non-random pattern of conflict progression was apparent, suggesting the conflict cause was related to the category of reconciliatory strategy shown by the individuals. The aggressor and the victim initiated reconciliation at similar rates, with the exception of verbal apologies, which were initiated most often by the aggressor. Finally, the data also showed that higher frequencies of social interaction between former opponents in the succeeding non-conflict period were associated both with whether or not social interaction had occurred in the pre-conflict period, and whether or not the conflict was reconciled. In conclusion, communicative factors preceding conflicts, and conflict cause, are distinctively correlated with both the use and the outcome of post-conflict affiliation in pre-school boys.