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Aggression

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Encyclopedia of Adolescence

Aggression traditionally has been viewed as behavior that has the intention of inflecting physical damage on another. Researchers have recognized several types of aggression, with the two most common being reactive (impulsive) and instrumental (proactive or controlled) aggression. Reactive aggression occurs as a response to an aversive stimulus, such as a deliberate provocation. Instrumental aggression is goal oriented; it is aimed to achieve a reward, such as financial gain (see Vitaro and Brendgen 2005). Researchers now increasingly examine less overt aggression, such as relational aggression aimed at damaging peers’ relationships or reputations (e.g., Crick and Grotpeter 1995). Still, the major thrust of research remains on understanding the nature of reactive and proactive aggression (see Hubbard et al. 2010).

Cross-References

Externalizing and Internalizing Symptoms

Proactive and Reactive Aggression

Trajectories of Aggressive-Disruptive Behavior

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References

  • Crick, N. R., & Grotpeter, J. K. (1995). Relational aggression, gender, and social-psychological adjustment. Child Development, 66, 710–722.

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  • Hubbard, J. A., McAuliffe, M. D., Morrow, M. T., & Romano, L. J. (2010). Reactive and proactive aggression in childhood and adolescence: Precursors, outcomes, processes, experiences, and measurement. Journal of Personality, 78, 95–118.

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  • Vitaro, F., & Brendgen, M. (2005). Proactive and reactive aggression: A developmental perspective. In R. E. Tremblay, W. M. Hartup, & J. Archer (Eds.), The developmental origins of aggression (pp. 178–201). New York: Guilford.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University, 302 Sycamore Hall, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Roger J. R. Levesque

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  1. Roger J. R. Levesque
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Correspondence to Roger J. R. Levesque .

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  1. Indiana University, 302 Sycamore Hall, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Roger J. R. Levesque

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Levesque, R.J.R. (2011). Aggression. In: Levesque, R.J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1695-2_508

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1695-2_508

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1694-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1695-2

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