Do Self-Esteem and Parental Authority Influence Self-Reported Aggressive Behaviors?

Aggression is a primary concern throughout the United States and over the last 40 years many researchers have tried to understand how aggression manifests (Tremblay, 2002). The present study examined the relations between self-esteem, perceived parental authority, and aggression. Two-hundred sixty participants were asked about their aggressive behaviors, self-esteem, and perceptions of parental authority. Results indicated that perceived authoritarian parenting was negatively correlated with hostility and physical aggression. Self-esteem was positively correlated with perceived authoritative parenting. Individuals’ who reported lower levels of self-esteem also reported higher levels of anger and hostility. The present study can contribute to understanding how an individuals’ perception of their parents can negatively influence their thoughts and behaviors.