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It’s a girl ‘thing’… Girls tend to be aggressive through covert, relational acts such as spreading rumours and excluding others from social groups (Crick and Grotpeter, 1995)

Subtypes of Aggression 1)Indirect -social exclusion and/or revenge -ignoring, avoiding, rejection -gossiping -spreading rumours -suggesting shunning of another -becoming friends with someone else (Underwood, 2003)

Subtypes of aggression con’t … 2)Relational “harming others through purposeful manipulation and damage to their peer relationships” (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995)

Subtypes of aggression con’t … 3)Social -friendship manipulation -alienation-ostracism -character defamation (Underwood, 2003)

Non-verbal forms of aggression Non-verbal forms of aggression  Gestures  Body language  Non-verbal cues  Passive- aggressive behaviour  Passing notes  Snickering; whispering  Avoidance  Exclusion  The cold shoulder / The silent treatment  Pouting/Sulking

Verbal forms of aggression  Passing notes  Name calling  Graffiti  Rumours  Social threats  Guilt

Electronic harassment  Instant messaging  Text messaging   Voice mail

Studies of Aggression with Girls  Girls less likely than boys to engage in physical aggression  Girls are more socially aggressive than they are physically aggressive  Stereotype of girls engaging in more social/relational/indirect aggression than boys

Early Childhood (ages 3-6)  Acts of social aggression quite overt (as compared to other age groups)  “You can’t play with us”  Display rules  Girls engage in less rough-and-tumble play than boys  Fewer opportunities to practise managing aggression in a “safe” setting?

Middle Childhood (ages 6-12)  Acts of social aggression more subtle (e.g., less obvious to adults)  Girls and boys respond differently when provoked  Differences not as pronounced as some may think  Girls report disliking socially aggressive peers (French, Jansen, & Pidada, 2002)

Adolescence (ages 12 to 16 or 18)  Peak age for engaging in physical aggression earlier for girls than for boys  Girls = 14; Boys = 16  Verbal aggression  Girls: appearance, social relationships  Boys: sports/athletics, scholastic achievement  Challenging gossip

Sub-Types of Aggressors & Victims 1) Non-victimised aggressors  “typical” bully 2) Non-aggressive victims  “typical” victim 3) Aggressive victims  “ineffectual bullies”

Coping Mechanisms 1. Passive unconstructive e.g., ignoring what is happening e.g., ignoring what is happening 2. Passive constructive e.g., try to resolve the problem without involving the aggressor e.g., try to resolve the problem without involving the aggressor 3. Aggressive e.g., starting a physical fight e.g., starting a physical fight 4. Assertive Resolution/prevention that does not involve aggression Resolution/prevention that does not involve aggression

Consequences Victims Victims  Loneliness  Depression  Low self-esteem Bullies  Loneliness  Depression  Impulsivity  Peer rejection  Social Isolation  Increased risk of committing acts of physical/social aggression against romantic partner

 some of the relational aggression behaviours that lead to problems for girls in their teen years begin as early as age 3  from ages 3 to 5 tends to be more direct, but by early adolescence it starts becoming much more covert  girls who are victims of this behaviour are more likely to demonstrate symptoms like depression, anxiety and academic problems