A cross-contextual analysis of boys' aggressiveness
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Mary Elizabeth Curtner (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Carol E. MacKinnon
Abstract: The research undertaken for this investigation was an analysis of boys' aggressiveness across two contexts: family and peer. The sample included 96 mother-son pairs. The mothers and sons visited the research center where they completed semi-structured interviews designed to assess their negative attributions about each other. Additionally, mothers and sons were observed while engaging in a laboratory interaction task. Research assistants visited the classrooms of participating sons in order to obtain peer nominations and teacher reports of boys' problem behaviors. Results of a one-way MANOVA revealed that maternal and child negative attributions and negative interactions did not vary by boys' aggressiveness as rated by their peers. Peer descriptions of appearing angry were strongly related to boys' aggressiveness as rated by their peers. Additionally, peer descriptions of shy and sad were unrelated to boys' aggressiveness. Teachers' reports of problem behaviors were strongly related to boys' aggressiveness as rated by their peers. Thus, there was discontinuity between boys' aggressiveness between family and peer, but a high degree of consensus among peers' and teachers' perceptions of boys' aggressiveness. The failure to find continuity between the two contexts of family and peer are discussed in terms of contextual differences in the situations that influence boys' aggressiveness.
A cross-contextual analysis of boys' aggressiveness
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Created on 1/1/1991
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 1991
- Subjects
- Aggressiveness in children
- Behavioral assessment of children
- Mothers and sons