Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
08:25
Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults
Published on: October 19, 2014
17.3K
Real-time hostile attribution measurement and aggression in children
Anna Yaros1, John E Lochman, Jill Rosenbaum
1Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Aggressive Behavior
|March 8, 2014
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Aggression Research
Background:
- Hostile attributions predict aggression in children.
- Real-time measurement of hostile attributions is understudied.
- Existing methods often rely on retrospective or vignette-based assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure hostile attributions in real-time during social interaction.
- To examine the relationship between real-time hostile attributions and different types of aggression (reactive and proactive).
- To understand the temporal nature of hostile attributions in aggressive behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an interactive video racing game to simulate peer interaction.
- Employed nonverbal and verbal response procedures to assess attributions during ambiguous provocations.
- Sample included 75 children aged 10-13.
Main Results:
- Real-time hostile attributions positively correlated with parent-rated reactive aggression.
- Nonverbal hostile attributions negatively correlated with proactive aggression.
- Hostile attributions occurred rapidly, concurrent with social interaction.
Conclusions:
- Real-time hostile attributions are linked to reactive aggression, potentially due to impulsive response styles.
- Proactive aggression may involve more deliberate appraisals, showing a negative link with real-time attributions.
- Findings support using real-time measures for identifying at-risk children and informing interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:47Aggression
19.1K
Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for...
19.1K
02:04Bullying
7.9K
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
7.9K
01:28Conduct Disorder
1.0K
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
1.0K
01:15Theory of Attribution I: Correspondent Inference Theory
1.1K
Correspondent inference theory, proposed by Jones and Davis in 1965, seeks to explain how individuals infer stable personality traits from observed behaviors. It suggests that people attribute actions to underlying dispositions rather than external circumstances, particularly when the behavior appears intentional and socially significant.Voluntary Behavior and Dispositional AttributionAccording to this theory, individuals are more likely to attribute behavior to personal traits when it appears...
1.1K
01:21Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
861
Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...
861
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
463
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
463