AbstractsPsychology

Relational aggression is a known form of aggressive behavior in which the relationship is used as the tool to inflict harm. Previous research indicates that relational aggression is predictive of maladjustment in children, is present in early childhood, and is linked to parental attitudes and practice. Using questionnaires, this study examined the relationship among parent beliefs and reported intervention strategies for relational aggression and teacher and parent reported levels of relational aggression in children. Findings indicated that parents and teachers rated preschool-aged (2-5 years) boys as more physically aggressive than preschool-aged girls, and rated older preschool-age children as more relationally aggressive than younger children. Parents rated their children lower in relational and physical aggression than their teachers did. In addition, there was a significant correlation between parental beliefs about relational aggression and how they rated their child???s level of aggression. Parents who viewed relational aggression as a typical/normal behavior also rated their child lower in prosocial skills and higher in relational and physical aggression than parents who viewed relational aggression as abnormal. Suggestions for future research are discussed.