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Gender differences in aggression

Author

Sue R. Noe, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1994

Document Type

Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Esther A. Cohen

First Committee Member

Kenneth L. Beauchamp

Second Committee Member

Gary N. Howells

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess whether boys and girls differed in their type and level of aggression and their level of remorse following an aggressive act. Participants were 36 aggressive boys and 36 nonaggressive boys, and 36 aggressive and 36 nonaggressive girls. The Peer Nomination Inventory (Walder, Abelson, Eron, Banta, & Laulicht, 1961) was used to identify aggressive and nonaggressive children. A modified version of the Antisocial Behavior and Remorse Test (ABRT) (Cohen, Westerman, Hoeffer, Woolley, & Ho, 1992) was used to identify types of aggression (direct vs indirect) and feelings of remorse. A main effect was obtained for gender in that boys reported that they would be more apt to act aggressively than would girls. An expected main effect for child type (aggressive or nonaggressive children) such that aggressive children were expected to self-report more aggressive responses than nonaggressive children was supported. An expected interaction between gender and type of aggression such that boys were expected to self-report more aggressive responses for direct aggression while girls were expected to self-report more aggressive responses for indirect aggression was not supported. Both boys and girls self-reported that they would be equally likely to engage in both types of aggression. For the remorse variable, the expected main effect for gender with girls self-reporting more remorse for an aggressive act than boys was obtained, as was the main effect for child type with aggressive boys and girls self-reporting less feelings of remorse for an aggressive act than nonaggressive boys and girls.

Pages

80

Recommended Citation

Noe, Sue R.. (1994). Gender differences in aggression. University of the Pacific, Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2791