The Graduate School College of Liberal Arts PEER INFLUENCES ON AGGRESSION WITHIN AN AGGRESSIVE CLASSROOM CONTEXT

This study examined three concurrent types of peer influence on the development of child aggression during the early elementary school years (grades 1-3): 1) low social preference among classmates, 2) friendships with aggressive peers, and 3) placement in a classroom characterized by high levels of peer aggression. This study drew from a large, diverse sample of 4096 children (from 27 schools at 4 sites). Teacher ratings assessed child aggression in 1 and 3 grade, and were averaged across classmates to assess classroom aggression in 2 grade. Sociometric interviews in 2 grade provided measures of peer-nominated aggression, reciprocated friendships, and social preference. Results indicated that, controlling for initial levels of aggression, low social preference and having aggressive friends exerted distinct, independent influences on aggressive behavior measured a year later. Classroom aggression exerted both a direct impact on child aggression, serving as a third source of peer influence, and it exerted an indirect impact by influencing the impact of social preference and aggressive friends on child aggression. In classrooms characterized by higher levels of peer aggression, the prevalence of friendships with aggressive peers increased. In addition, in classrooms characterized by higher levels of peer aggression, the impact of aggressive behavior on social preference was attenuated and aggressive children were less disliked.