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Hostile attribution of intent and aggressive behavior: a meta-analysis
Bram Orobio de Castro1, Jan W Veerman, Willem Koops
1Department of Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. b.castro@fss.uu.nl
Child Development
|June 1, 2002
Summary
Children with aggressive behavior often exhibit hostile attribution of intent towards peers. This meta-analysis confirms a strong link, highlighting factors influencing the effect size in research on childhood aggression.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Children's aggressive behavior is a significant concern.
- Hostile attribution of intent (HAI) is a proposed cognitive mechanism underlying aggression.
- Previous research presents divergent findings on the HAI-aggression link.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analytic review explaining divergent findings on the relation between children's aggressive behavior and HAI.
- To identify moderators influencing the association between HAI and aggressive behavior.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of 41 studies including 6,017 participants.
- Studies categorized by sample type: general population, nonaggressive vs. aggressive nonreferred, and nonreferred vs. referred children.
- Effect sizes analyzed in relation to various study characteristics.
Main Results:
- A robust, significant association was found between HAI and aggressive behavior.
- Effect sizes varied considerably, moderated by factors like aggression severity, peer rejection, age (8-12 years), and intelligence control.
- Stimulus presentation method influenced effect size, with actual social interactions yielding the largest effects.
Conclusions:
- Hostile attribution of intent is strongly linked to aggressive behavior in children.
- Understanding moderators is crucial for refining theories of childhood aggression.
- Methodological choices in research significantly impact observed effect sizes.