Contextual Influences of Proactive and Reactive Subtypes of Aggression

Abstract

The contextual factors associated with proactive and reactive subtypes of aggression have not been well-studied. In order to address this omission in the literature, the current study evaluated relations between perceived best friend delinquency, negative life events, and proactive and reactive aggression in a sample of 147 school-age children (M age =8.22 years; 54.4% male). Multiple regression analyses suggested that negative life events were uniquely associated with reactive aggression and best friend delinquency was uniquely associated with proactive aggression. Findings and their implications are discussed.Keywords Proactive and reactive aggression . Negative life events . Peer delinquency Proactive (goal-oriented and calculated) and reactive (in response to perceived threat) aggression represent correlated but theoretically and empirically distinct subtypes of aggressive behavior that are differentially associated with a host of social and behavior outcomes (see Card and Little 2006). There is a need for understanding the contextual factors associated with these distinct aggression subtypes, as this information would be useful for the refinement and implementation of targeted interventions. However, research examining the contextual influences of these aggression subtypes is limited (Vitaro et al. 2006). Both peer delinquency and negative life events are contextual factors that been found to impact aggressive behavior (Tremblay et al. 2004). However, their associations with these aggressive subtypes have not been well-studied. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to examine associations between peer delinquency, negative life events, and proactive and reactive aggression.

The relationship between reactive and proactive Aggression and emotional and behavioral difficulties: Criterion validity of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) among preadolescents

“…The strongest positive correlation was observed between conduct symptoms and proactive aggression. This is in line with previous empirical studies showing that proactive aggression is more strongly associated with delinquency and conduct disorder than reactive aggression (Fite et al, 2012;Raine et al, 2006;Vitaro et al, 1998). Scarpa, Haden and Tanaka (2010) found that reactive aggression was significantly related to increased internalizing behaviors and attention deficits, while proactive aggression was significantly related to increased hyperactivity/impulsivity and delinquent behavior problems.…”

Peer Relations and Peer Deviance as Predictors of Reactive and Proactive Aggression among High School Girls

“…As explained above, this finding may also refer to the links between problematic peer relationships and proactive aggression. Consistent with previous studies (Fite et al, 2010;Fite et al, 2012), mild deviance was also found to be a significant predictor of proactive aggression. Peer delinquency is believed to effect proactively aggressive behavior through peer socialization.…”

“…Prior findings regarding the relations of peer deliquency with reactive and proactive aggression is somewhat controversial. While a recent study (Fite et al, 2012) found that best friend deliquency was positively associated with proactive aggression and unrelated to reactive aggression, Fite et al (2010) reported that peer delinquency was positively associated with both proactive and reactive aggression. In the present study we focused on "peer deliquency" rather than "best friend deliquency."…”

The Role of Hostile Attributions in the Associations Between Child Maltreatment and Reactive and Proactive Aggression

“…Shields and Cicchetti (1998) examined the interplay of aggression, emotion, and attention among youth with and without maltreatment histories and found that physically abused youth exhibited higher levels of reactive aggression than youth without such histories. Additional research has found a unique association between stressful life events and reactive, but not proactive, aggression (Brown, Fite, & Poquiz, In press; Fite, Wimsatt, et al, 2012; Silvern & Griese, 2012). In contrast, Connor and colleagues (2004) examined correlates of reactive and proactive aggression among psychiatrically referred youth.…”

“…First, most of this research has focused on broadly defined aggression, ignoring subtypes (i.e., reactive and proactive aggression) of aggressive behavior (Bandura, 1973; Friend, 2014). Second, studies that have examined the link between child maltreatment and reactive (in response to a perceived threat) and proactive (goal-oriented) aggression have produced mixed results (Fite, Wimsatt, Elkins, & Grassetti, 2012; Shields & Cicchetti, 1998). Another limitation of the current literature is that few studies have examined the mechanisms through which maltreatment experiences might contribute to reactive and proactive aggression.…”