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Social reasoning: a source of influence on aggression.
R J Harvey1, J Fletcher, D J French
1Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6907, Australia. robin@psy.uwa.edu.au
Clinical Psychology Review
|April 6, 2001
Summary
Aggressive children process social information differently, impacting their decision-making. This review links social reasoning deficits to aggressive behavior in children, suggesting new research directions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Cognition
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Aggressive children exhibit social information processing deficits.
- Early experiences and social schemas influence aggressive behavior.
- Social reasoning is crucial for interpreting social cues and making decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the links between social reasoning and aggression in children.
- To examine how social reasoning domains influence aggressive behavior.
- To explore developmental and clinical implications of social reasoning in aggression.
Main Methods:
- Review of empirical evidence on social reasoning in normal and aggressive children.
- Application of domain theory to understand social reasoning patterns.
- Analysis of how children aged 3+ make judgments about social events.
Main Results:
- Children as young as 3 demonstrate consistent social reasoning patterns linked to social domains.
- Aggressive children access social reasoning information differently than prosocial children.
- These differences impact social decision-making and subsequent behavior.
Conclusions:
- Social reasoning plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of aggression.
- Altered access to social reasoning domains contributes to aggressive behavior.
- Further research is needed to explore developmental and clinical implications.