Delimitando la agresión adolescenteestudio diferencial de los patrones de agresión reactiva y proactiva

Abstract

Delimiting adolescent aggression: A differential study of patterns of reactive and proactive aggression. Aggressive behaviour is a complex phenomenon that covers, under the same label, different behaviours which will differ in many ways. This diversity has led to propose a number of classification models among which it must be underlined the differentiation between reactive aggression, considered a defensive reaction to a particular event, and proactive aggression, defined by its instrumental, deliberate and offensive nature. In order to analyse the correlates of reactive and proactive aggression, this study has examined their relationship with a set of variables analysed in a sample of 138 participants (aged 12 to 17). The results showed a pattern of differential correlations, and allowed to delimit the phenomenon of adolescent aggressive behaviour. These results justify the distinction between reactive aggression, related to impulsivity, internalizing problems and lower social competence level, and proactive aggression, characterized by lower levels of anxiety or neuroticism, and greater presence of psychopathic traits.