Citation

Kempes M, Matthys W, de Vries H, Van Engeland H. Psychiatry Res. 2010; 176(2-3): 219-223.

Affiliation

Social Sciences, Department of Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3508TC, PO 0140, Postnr. 130, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2008.08.006

PMID

20219250

Abstract

Previous studies that operationalized reactive aggression using behavioral observations in general populations have not taken into account the type of stimulus that elicits reactive aggression. In the present study we define a specific form of reactive aggression, i.e., reactive aggression in response to neutral behavior of a peer, which we will call unprovoked reactive aggression. We were specifically interested in children with severe aggressive behavior problems, since they may respond with reactive aggression even though the opponent did not clearly provoke them, but instead showed neutral behavior. Children with a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) and normal control (NC) children participated in separate play sessions in which they played with a normal peer (NP). Children with DBD showed more unprovoked reactive aggression than NC children, during a cooperative game. Moreover, for children with DBD, unprovoked reactive aggressive behavior in this game correlated with parent-rated reactive aggression. Results of this study suggest that an unprovoked reactive form of aggression can be identified in children with DBD.

Language: en