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Social information-processing mechanisms in reactive and proactive aggression.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Crick, NR; Dodge, KA
Published in: Child development
June 1996

Theories of aggressive behavior and ethological observations in animals and children suggest the existence of distinct forms of reactive (hostile) and proactive (instrumental) aggression. Toward the validation of this distinction, groups of reactive aggressive, proactive aggressive, and nonaggressive children were identified (n = 624 9-12-year-olds). Social information-processing patterns were assessed in these groups by presenting hypothetical vignettes to subjects. 3 hypotheses were tested: (1) only the reactive-aggressive children would demonstrate hostile biases in their attributions of peers' intentions in provocation situations (because such biases are known to lead to reactive anger); (2) only proactive-aggressive children would evaluate aggression and its consequences in relatively positive ways (because proactive aggression is motivated by its expected external outcomes); and (3) proactive-aggressive children would select instrumental social goals rather than relational goals more often than nonaggressive children. All 3 hypotheses were at least partially supported.

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Published In

Child development

DOI

EISSN

1467-8624

ISSN

0009-3920

Publication Date

June 1996

Volume

67

Issue

3

Start / End Page

993 / 1002

Related Subject Headings

  • Sociometric Techniques
  • Social Perception
  • Self Concept
  • Personality Development
  • Personality Assessment
  • Peer Group
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Internal-External Control
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Crick, N. R., & Dodge, K. A. (1996). Social information-processing mechanisms in reactive and proactive aggression. Child Development, 67(3), 993–1002. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1996.tb01778.x
Crick, N. R., and K. A. Dodge. “Social information-processing mechanisms in reactive and proactive aggression.Child Development 67, no. 3 (June 1996): 993–1002. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1996.tb01778.x.
Crick NR, Dodge KA. Social information-processing mechanisms in reactive and proactive aggression. Child development. 1996 Jun;67(3):993–1002.
Crick, N. R., and K. A. Dodge. “Social information-processing mechanisms in reactive and proactive aggression.Child Development, vol. 67, no. 3, June 1996, pp. 993–1002. Epmc, doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1996.tb01778.x.
Crick NR, Dodge KA. Social information-processing mechanisms in reactive and proactive aggression. Child development. 1996 Jun;67(3):993–1002.
Journal cover image

Published In

Child development

DOI

EISSN

1467-8624

ISSN

0009-3920

Publication Date

June 1996

Volume

67

Issue

3

Start / End Page

993 / 1002

Related Subject Headings

  • Sociometric Techniques
  • Social Perception
  • Self Concept
  • Personality Development
  • Personality Assessment
  • Peer Group
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Internal-External Control
  • Humans