Citation

Morisset A, Baillargeon RH. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 2006; 38(1): 12-23.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/h0087267

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Several hypotheses on antisocial behaviour development have been based on individuals who are old enough to go to school. The present study's objectives were to verify some of these hypotheses in the transition from 17-29-41 months of age. Data for two aggressive behaviours (i.e. fighting, physically assaulting others) were collected in a sample that represented Quebec children. First, results suggest that in accordance with the socialization hypothesis, the propensity to show frequent aggressive behaviour is more consistent among boys between the ages of 29 and 41 months, while the propensity not to manifest such behaviour is more consistent among girls. Second, results suggest that under the precocity hypothesis, the propensity for frequent aggressive behaviour is more consistent in children between the ages of 29 and 41 months who already showed the same tendency at the age of 17 months. Third, under the severity hypothesis, results also show that aggressive behaviour is more consistent between 29 and 41 months in children who manifest it often. However, the contrary is true among the majority of children who do not manifest such behaviour at the age of 17 months. Fourth, results show that under the turn for the worse hypothesis, there are slightly more children who start manifesting frequent aggressive behaviour between 29 and 41 months, than there are children who stop manifesting such behaviour. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords

Aggressive Behavior; Antisocial Behavior; Psychosocial Development