Aggression in preschoolers: its relation to socialization.
The present article discusses developmental changes of aggression seen in preschool children and reports on an 18-month short-term prospective study of three preschool populations: a group referred for aggressive behavior problems, a normal control group, and a group of youngsters who had lived in violent homes, but showed no aggressive behaviors. Results indicate that the aggressive children, in comparison with the other two groups at age 4, showed a significant delay in their interpersonal awareness and perspective taking ability. However, although the aggressive children caught up with their peers in the course of the study period, there was no accompanying decrease in their aggressive behavior. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Minde
K
K
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
D000374:Aggression; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012951:Socialization