Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Peer group similarities in adolescent hostile attribution tendencies
Sarah L Halligan1, Katherine J Philips
1School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, 3 Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AL, United Kingdom. s.l.halligan@reading.ac.uk
Abstract:
A bias toward attributing hostile intent to others has been linked to aggression. In an adolescent sample, the question of whether peer group homophily exists in the tendency toward attributing hostile intent was investigated. Hostile attribution tendencies and self-reported aggressive behaviors were assessed in a normative sample of 910 adolescents and average peer group scores were computed on the basis of nominated friend scores. Results indicated that adolescents showed significant correlations between their own level of hostile attributions and that of their peer group. Further analyses indicated that this effect occurred specifically in reciprocal friendships and was retained even when own and peer group levels of aggression were controlled.
Related Concept Videos
Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory
Theory of Attribution I: Correspondent Inference Theory
In- and Out-Groups
Attribution Theory
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Fundamental Attribution Error

