Naughty or Nice:An exploration of overt and relational

aggression at the collegiate level

Julie WitherupTeela Myers

Hanover College

Types of Aggression Crick and Grotpeter (1995)

Overt Aggression– Harming others through physical damage or the

threat of such damage (e.g., pushing).

Relational Aggression– Harming others through damage to peer

relationships or the threat of such damage (e.g., spreading rumors).

Gender Differences Crick and Grotpeter (1995)

Boys were significantly more overtly aggressive than girls.

Girls were significantly more relationally aggressive than boys.

Consequences of Relational Aggression

Relational aggression is associated with problems in peer relationships, higher levels of depression, and lower levels of self-esteem (Crick and Grotpeter, 1995; Crick, Casas, & Nelson, 2002; Crocker, 2002).

We are examining aggression at the college level.

We are examining aggression from the viewpoint of both the aggressors and victims.

We are examining aggression using both surveys and qualitative methods.

Why is our study important?

Research Questions Do males and females differ in their level of involvement in aggression and victimization?

Does involvement in aggression and victimization predict self-esteem?

Does victimization predict aggression?

Method: Part ISurveys

Participants: – 60 students (37 female, 23 male)

Measures:– Aggression and victimization scales

– Self-esteem

Overt Aggression Scales

Aggressor’s Scale (α = .86)– “How often do you react by hitting a person when

that person angers or provokes you?”

Victim’s Scale (α = .90)– “How often do you get pushed or shoved by

peers?”

Relational Aggression Scales

Aggressor’s Scale (α = .87)– “When I am mad, I retaliate by excluding others from

activities.”

Victim’s Scale (α = .86)– “How often do peers spread lies about you to

make other people dislike you?”

Self-Esteem Scale

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory (α = .82)– “On the whole I am satisfied with myself.”

Method: Part IIScenarios

Participants:– 35 students from Part I (23 females, 12 males)

12 Open-ended Scenarios:– “Your significant other tells you that Lilly has been

saying negative things about you in an attempt to get your significant other to break up with you. What do you do?”

Qualitative Analyses

4 Raters:– Two Research Methods students

– Us!

Coding Procedure– Coded levels of overt and relational aggression

using a four point scale (αs = .71 to .99)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Overt Aggression Relational Aggression

Males

Females

Aggression by GenderSurvey Data

2.20

1.75 1.791.60

**

** p < .01

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

Overt Aggression Relational Aggression

Males

Females

Aggression by GenderScenario Data

.78

.59

.34

.75**

** p < .01

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Overt Aggression Relational Aggression

Males

Females

Victimization by GenderSurvey Data

2.04

1.23

1.751.64

***

*** p < .001

CorrelationsSelf-Esteem

Overt Aggression

Relational Aggression

Overt Victimization

Relational Victimization

Self-Esteem 1

Overt Aggression

-.07 1

Relational Aggression

.05 .53*** 1

Overt Victimization

-.10 .60*** .41*** 1

Relational

Victimization-.20 .31* .46*** .44*** 1

* p < .05, *** p < .001

Supporting Scenario Question

“Harold and Trey keep talking about this awesome party they are going to this weekend. It is Thursday and they have not asked you to go with them yet. This is the third time they have not invited you to go places with them this month. What do you do?

Supporting Scenario Response

“I would ask then questions about the party, hinting that I want to go. Then after they still don’t invite me, I just leave the room and go to another friend’s room and complain about how rude they were being. I will probably be a bit bitter about the whole situation and not be extra nice and friendly around them for a while. I won’t ask them to join me for future events probably.”

Discussion

Significant gender difference emerged in overt and relational aggression and victimization.

Self-esteem did not predict levels of aggression or victimization.

Victimization significantly predicts aggression.

Future Research

Larger, diverse samples

Assess negative outcomes of aggression in addition to self-esteem

More in-depth look at the relational and overt cycle

Questions?

References Crick, N. R., & Grotpeter, J. K. (1995). Relational

Aggression, Gender, and Social-Psychological Adjustment. Child Development, 66, 710-762.

Crick, N. R., Casas, J. F., & Nelson, D. A. (2002). Toward a more comprehensive understanding of peer maltreatment: Studies of relational victimization. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11, 98-101.

Crocker, J. (2002). The costs of seeking self-esteem. Journal of Social Issues, 58, 597-615.