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Indirect Aggression

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

Synonyms

Relational aggression; Social aggression

Definition

Indirect aggression is a behavior intended to harm others, particularly others’ social position and self-esteem, through circuitous means. It is a kind of social manipulation, in which the aggressor manipulates other individuals or the social structure to psychologically harm the victim, without the direct confrontation. The related constructs of social and relational aggression also represent the same phenomena in which social community or peer group serves a mediating role between the aggressor and victim. Indirect aggression is exemplified by behaviors such as gossiping behind back, spreading rumors, social exclusion, slandering remarks, etc.

Introduction

Undoubtedly, aggressive behavior is problematic and a potential formative factor in adjustment problems for both aggressor and victim. Initial research has quite commonly focused on male-oriented models of physical aggression. However, it is clear that the aggressor may...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore, Pakistan

    Shameem Fatima

Authors
  1. Shameem Fatima
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Correspondence to Shameem Fatima .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Tara DeLecce

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Fatima, S. (2019). Indirect Aggression. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_193-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_193-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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