Aggressive behavior in the adolescent psychiatric patient: a clinical-developmental perspective.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relationship between ego development and psychological defenses to aggressive behavior in a group of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents.


METHODS
Subjects were 245 adolescents ages 12-16, who were assessed for aggressive behaviors, assaultive incidents, ego development and defenses.


RESULTS
Aggressive behavior was found to be negatively associated with ego development, regardless of age, gender or IQ. Defense styles which located the source of conflict outside of the self were associated with higher levels of self-reported aggressive behaviors. Hospital incidents of assault were associated with a lack of cognitively based defenses.


CONCLUSIONS
Aggressive behavior is tied to the development of critical psychological processes which shape the adolescent's ability to understand themselves and their environment. The results are discussed in the context of a clinical-developmental approach to adolescent aggressive behavior.
Recklitis
Christopher J
CJ
Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. christopher_recklitis@dfci.harvard.edu
Noam
Gil G
GG
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires