Gender Differences in Social Aggression: An Examination of Young Adults Attending An Australian University

Abstract

There have been a number of studies that have examined the gendered nature of social aggression in children (Bjoerkqvist, Lagerspetz & Kaukiainen 1992; Bjoerkqvist, Oesterman & Lagerspetz 1994; Crick, Bigbee and Howes 1996; Lagerspetz & Bjoerkqvist 1994; Owens 1996). These studies have shown that girls tend to use techniques of social aggression more than boys. What is less understood is the nature of social aggression in young adults. To explore this further, 186 young adults enrolled in an Australian university completed a questionnaire which asked them to rate their levels of physical aggression, social aggression, and pro-social behaviours. This research examines the extent to which males and females differ in their use of social aggression and how this relates to their use of physical aggression. There has been a focus on female participation in socially aggressive behaviours but this research has shown that this type of aggression is also engaged in by males. Preliminary analyses of the data show that the level of social aggression between males and females do not significantly differ. These findings not only contribute to the understanding of the gendered nature of aggressive behaviour, but also have important implications for the current theories of social aggression and the treatment of aggressive behaviour in young adults.