The Role of Inhibitory Control, Attention and Vocabulary in Physical Aggression Trajectories From Infancy to Toddlerhood

Abstract

Physical aggression has its origin very early in development, but no studies to date have examined physical aggression trajectories starting before the age of 1.5 years. This study examined whether cognition plays a role in the development of physical aggression from infancy onward. In a sample of 182 mother-child dyads (94 boys; 88 girls), child physical aggression was assessed by maternal report using the Physical Aggression Scale for Early Childhood at 12, 20, and 30 months. Children performed cognitive tasks measuring inhibitory control and attention, and mothers rated children's vocabulary at 12 and 30 months. Results showed that differential development of physical aggression already starts at 12 months of age: low-stable, low-increasing, moderate-decreasing and high-stable trajectory groups were identified. Inhibitory control, attention and vocabulary at 12 months and development of these abilities from 12 to 30 months were selectively related to the likelihood of following the low-increasing and moderate-decreasing trajectories compared to the low-stable physical aggression trajectory. This study is the first to show that specific aspects of cognition and cognitive development are related to differential physical aggression development from infancy onward.

Cognitive Control Processes and Defense Mechanisms That Influence Aggressive Reactions: Toward an Integration of Socio-Cognitive and Psychodynamic Models of Aggression

“…The current study focusses on the N400 as it has previously been shown as a valid index of HABs among aggressive individuals and non-aggressive individuals using the HEVP (Gagnon et al, 2016). Further, there is a vast literature converging on the idea that aggressive individuals may present deficits in inhibitory control processes that serve to regulate aggressive impulses, which has been empirically shown to predict individual differences in reactive aggressivity and HABs (Posner and Rothbart, 2000;Robinson, 2008, 2010;Choe et al, 2013;van Adrichem et al, 2020).…”

Developmental pathways of physical aggression from infancy to early school age

“…Moreover, studies have typically identified at least one trajectory group showing low levels of aggression across time, as well as one characterized by a high and stable level. Whereas several, but not all, studies have identified trajectories characterized by declining physical aggression [21, 24, 27], no late onset high physical aggression groups tend to be identified.…”

“…This is likely related to sample variations like age range, size, and risk factor composition, the number of repeated assessments and variation in the targeted constructs that measurements are able to capture, as well as model specification and model selection criteria [8, 22]. Several studies focusing on the course of physical aggression through early childhood have identified either 3 [8, 10, 17, 20], 4 [19, 23–27], or 5 trajectories of aggression [13, 21]. Some have also reported differing numbers of trajectory groups for girls and boys (i.e., 3 for girls and 5 for boys [2].…”

Reducing Aggression by Developing Emotional and Inhibitory Control

“…These behaviors are generally the result of frustration and are reactive in nature, and are not often intended to do harm [ 12 ]. Around the age of 2 years, there is an increase in physical aggression until it reaches its peak [ 13 , 14 ]. In this second year, aggressive behaviors are aimed at the acquisition or defense of toys or the intention to achieve a goal [ 15 ].…”

“…In fact, many problem behaviors could be conceptualized, in part, as failures to inhibit inappropriate responses [ 22 ]. Along these lines, several studies indicate that poor inhibitory control is associated with high levels of aggressive behavior during the pre-school period [ 14 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”