Brengden study
- Created by: 11pyoung
- Created on: 18-04-17 14:45
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- Brengden Study
- Aim
- To examine if the origins of social aggression is either environmental or genetic
- To examine if social and physical aggression are the same
- To see which develops first, physical then social, or vice versa
- Sample and Design
- 234 6 year old twins
- MZ:
- 44M
- 50F
- DZ:
- 41M
- 32F
- MZ:
- 234 6 year old twins
- Procedure
- Longitudinal study in Canada
- Twins observed at 5,18,30,48 and 60 months and finally again at 6 years old
- Peer and teacher ratings were given on physical and social aggressive behaviour
- Social aggression factors included the extent to which the child tried to make others dislike him or her, made friends with another for revenge and spread rumours
- Physical aggression was the extent to which a child got into fights, physically attacked others and hit, bit or kicked others
- Measures of aggression
- Teachers
- Responses were given on a 3 point scale using the pre-school behaviour scale
- Observations, peer-report and teacher ratings
- Peers
- Shown phots and asked to circle three children which best fit the descriptions given
- Teachers
- Longitudinal study in Canada
- Results
- High correlation between physical aggression in MZs
- DZs physical and social aggression scores are equal
- 82% received at least one nomination as among the top 3 most socially aggressive in the class
- 62% received at least one nomination for the top 3 most physically aggressive in the class
- Boys were more physically aggressive than girls who were more socially aggressive
- Teachers
- Boys more physically and socially aggressive than girls
- Peers
- Overall environmental factors were more correlate with social aggression and biological factors were more correlated with physical aggression
- Physical aggression leads to social aggression
- Conclusions
- Strong genetic component to physical aggression but not social
- Environmental factors interact with biological ones suggesting aggression and violent interactions are an interplay between the two
- Young children are capable of using complex manipulative strategies in addition to physical means to harm their peers
- Children showing early physical aggression are likely to show social aggression later on
- Evaluation
- Strengths
- The first study of its kind to look at both nature and nurture
- Reliability is increased by using both teachers and peer ratings as it showed a lot of similarities
- Using MZ and DZ is a good way of studying nature and nurture and matching for gender is a good control
- Useful for predicting social aggression if young child shows physical aggression
- High predictive validity
- Weaknesses
- Small sample size
- Cannot generalise the results beyond the assessed ages as aggression may not develop until 8 years old
- Behaviours observed could be the result of imitation
- Not possible to separate twins from a hared environment
- Few EVs controlled due to time issues
- Ages tested in longitudinal study very specific
- Children may develop aggression at different age points lowering the validity of the study
- Strengths
- Aim
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