The social behavior of peer-identified aggressive, withdrawn, and aggressive/withdrawn children

The behavioral patterns associated with peer ratings of aggression and withdrawal were explored. First, a discriminant function analysis (N = 74) using seven observational variables was found to significantly identify groups of Aggressive, Withdrawn, and Contrast fourth- and fifth-grade girls and boys. Aggressive/Withdrawn children were not distinguishable from Contrasts. In subsequent analyses comparing the behaviors of children in the four groups at two schools (total N = 117), children in the Aggressive and Withdrawn groups each showed distinctive patterns of social behavior, which were consistent across the two schools. The behavior of the Aggressive/Withdrawn children was not significantly different from that of Contrast children. However, results from one school suggested that Aggressive/Withdrawn children may receive a disproportionate amount of aggression from peers. Finally, the behavior patterns displayed by the deviant groups were similar for girls and boys, allowing for sex differences in base rates of playground behavior. These results confirm the observability of peer-identified patterns of aggression and withdrawal, and provide a detailed description of the behavior of such children in a free-play situation.