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Effect of children's perceived rejection on physical aggression
Vito S Guerra1, Steven R Asher, Melissa E DeRosier
1Department of Psychology: Social and Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA. vsg@acpub.duke.edu
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|October 27, 2004
Summary
Children who feel socially rejected may become more physically aggressive, especially if they blame peers. This prospective study found perceived rejection uniquely influences externalizing behavior in elementary students.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Social rejection is a significant stressor in childhood.
- Understanding factors contributing to physical aggression is crucial for intervention.
- Peer relationships play a vital role in children's social and emotional development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between perceived social rejection and physical aggression in elementary school children.
- To examine if blaming peers for social failures mediates this relationship.
- To explore gender differences in the association between perceived rejection and aggression.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study assessing 941 third-grade boys and girls over one school year.
- Collected peer-report data on physical aggression and social preference.
- Utilized self-report measures for perceived rejection and attributions for social failure.
Main Results:
- For boys, perceived rejection and blaming peers predicted increased physical aggression over time.
- Girls exhibited a different pattern, suggesting gender-specific pathways.
- Perceived social rejection was a unique predictor of externalizing behavior.
Conclusions:
- Children's self-perceptions of social rejection can prospectively influence physical aggression.
- Findings highlight the importance of social-cognitive factors in understanding aggressive behavior.
- Further research is needed to explore mediating mechanisms and gender differences.