The functions of aggression by male teenagers

J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000 Dec;79(6):988-94. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.79.6.988.

Abstract

A selectionist theory states that violence by males toward male peers originally served specific functions and violence to female peers served others. Differences in self-reported victimization and perpetration in studies of 1.452 high school students were hypothesized. In Study 1, male-to-male aggression was reported to be more prevalent than male-to-female aggression. For male-to-male aggression, perpetrator reports agreed with or exceeded victim reports, and victims were more often strangers than close friends, In contrast, for male-to-female aggression, there were consistently fewer reports from perpetrators than from victims, and victims were less often strangers than girlfriends. Study 2 obtained similar findings for reported frequency, number of victims and perpetrators, and sexual aggression. Study 3 showed that girls' aggression contrasted with that by boys with respect to intra- versus intersex aggression and perpetrator victim agreement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Crime Victims
  • Dominance-Subordination
  • Female
  • Gender Identity*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motivation
  • Peer Group
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Violence / psychology