Low Levels Of Aggressive Behavior Research Articles

Moral Judgment of Children Deprived and Non Deprived of Parental Care in Majd al-Krum and its Relationship to Aggressive Behavior: الحكم الخلقي لدى الأبناء المحرومين وغير المحرومين من الرعاية الوالدية في مجد الكروم في فلسطين وعلاقته بالسلوك العدواني

The aim of the study was to investigate moral judgment and its relationship with aggressive behavior among parental care deprived and non- deprived children at Majd Al Krum. The sample of the study consisted of (400) male and female students, of whom (200) parental care deprived children and (200) parental care non- deprived children at Majd Al Krum, Palestine in the 2018/2019 school year. To achieve the aims of the study, the researcher used Moral Judgment Scale developed by Abdel Fattah (2001), while Aggressive Behavior Scale was developed by the researcher. Validity and reliability for both scales were verified. The results of the study revealed low levels of moral judgment among parental care deprived children, while moderate levels of moral judgment were found among parental care non- deprived children at Majd Al Krum. The results of the study indicate high levels of aggressive behavior among parental care deprived children, while low levels of aggressive behavior were found among parental care non- deprived children at Majd Al Krum. There were no statistically significant differences in moral judgment and aggressive behavior level among parental care deprived and non-deprived children at Majd Al Krum due to gender. There were also no statistically significant differences in aggressive behavior among parental care non- deprived children at Majd Al Krum due to class level, while statistically significant differences were found in aggressive behavior among parental care deprived children at Majd al Krum due to class level, in favor of fifth grade students. The results revealed a statistically negative correlation between moral judgment and aggressive behavior among parental care deprived and non- deprived children at Majd Al Krum. Several recommendations and suggestions were presented including the need for future research on this category of children deprived and non deprived of Parental Care in the light of different variables such as emotional intelligence, psychological flexibility, and self-image.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ПСИХОДІАГНОСТИКИ ПОВЕДІНКОВИХ РОЗЛАДІВ ДОШКІЛЬНИКІВ З ПОРУШЕННЯМ ІНТЕЛЕКТУАЛЬНОГО РОЗВИТКУ

Дослідження поведінкових розладів дошкільників з порушеннями інтелектуального розвитку розглянуто як невід’ємну складову психологічного супроводу дітей, а отримані діагностичні дані – як основу для здійснення подальшої ефективної психокорекційної роботи. Обґрунтовано необхідність створення комплексного та ґрунтовного підходу до діагностики особливостей поведінкових розладів старших дошкільників з інтелектуальними порушеннями. Проаналізовано сучасні наукові дослідження і визначено, що поведінкові розлади дітей з порушеннями інтелектуального розвитку досліджуються з погляду біологічного, соціального та психолого-педагогічного підходу. У статті феномен поведінкових розладів розглянуто в межах психолого-педагогічного підходу, зазначено його переваги. Визначено, що найбільш поширеним видом поведінкових розладів серед дітей дошкільного віку з порушеннями інтелектуального розвитку є агресивна поведінка. Виділено основні критерії для діагностики агресивної поведінки дошкільників з порушеннями інтелектуального розвитку, а саме: рівень самоконтролю, тип локусу контролю, рівень дисципліни, риси особистості, особливості емоційної сфери та взаємин дошкільників. До кожного критерію підібрано психодіагностичні методики з урахуванням особливостей дітей дошкільного віку з порушеннями інтелектуального розвитку. Представлено результати діагностики за кожним критерієм. На основі отриманих даних визначено рівні сформованості агресивної поведінки у дітей старшого дошкільного віку з порушеннями інтелектуального розвитку. Наведено характеристики дітей старшого дошкільного віку з порушеннями інтелектуального розвитку з високим, середнім і низьким рівнем сформованості агресивної поведінки.

The Role of Estrogen Receptor β (ERβ) in the Establishment of Hierarchical Social Relationships in Male Mice.

Acquisition of social dominance is important for social species including mice, for preferential access to foods and mates. Male mice establish social rank through agonistic behaviors, which are regulated by gonadal steroid hormone, testosterone, as its original form and aromatized form. It is well known that estrogen receptors (ERs), particularly ER α (ERα), mediate effects of aromatized testosterone, i.e., 17β-estradiol, but precise role played by ER β (ERβ) is still unclear. In the present study, we investigated effects of ERβ gene disruption on social rank establishment in male mice. Adult male ERβ knockout (βERKO) mice and their wild type (WT) littermates were paired based on genotype- and weight-matched manner and tested against each other repeatedly during 7 days experimental period. They underwent 4 trials of social interaction test in neutral cage (homogeneous set test) every other day. Along repeated trials, WT but not βERKO pairs showed a gradual increase of agonistic behaviors including aggression and tail rattling, and a gradual decrease of latency to social rank determination in tube test conducted after each trial of the social interaction test. Analysis of behavioral transition further suggested that WT winners in the tube test showed one-sided aggression during social interaction test suggesting WT pairs went through a process of social rank establishment. On the other hand, a dominant-subordinate relationship in βERKO pairs was not as apparent as that in WT pairs. Moreover, βERKO mice showed lower levels of aggressive behavior than WT mice in social interaction tests. These findings collectively suggest that ERβ may play a significant role in the establishment and maintenance of hierarchical social relationships among male mice.

A meta-analysis of prosocial media on prosocial behavior, aggression, and empathic concern: A multidimensional approach.

Studies examining the effects of exposure to prosocial media on positive outcomes are increasing in number and strength. However, existing meta-analyses use a broad definition of prosocial media that does not recognize the multidimensionality of prosocial behavior. The aim of the current study is to conduct a meta-analysis on the effects of exposure to prosocial media on prosocial behavior, aggression, and empathic concern while examining multiple moderators that the prosocial behavior literature suggests are important to our understanding of why individuals voluntarily help others (e.g., target, type, cost). Results from 72 studies involving 243 effect sizes revealed that exposure to prosocial media was related to higher levels of prosocial behavior and empathic concern and lower levels of aggressive behavior. Moderation analyses suggest that several moderators accounted for heterogeneity in the model, including age of participant, region, media type (active vs. passive), and study design. In terms of multidimensional moderators, prosocial media had stronger effects on prosocial behavior toward strangers than did any other target and on helping and prosocial thinking but not donating or volunteering. Comparisons with other meta-analyses on media effects are made and implications for parents, media producers, and researchers are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Effects of Musical Training on Child Development: a Randomized Trial of El Sistema in Venezuela

Many studies have explored the links between music and children’s outcomes; however, study designs have not been sufficiently rigorous to support causal findings. This study aims to assess the effects of a large-scale music program on children’s developmental functioning in the context of high rates of exposure to violence. The paper describes the results of an experimental evaluation of Venezuela’s National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras. The curriculum of the program, better known as “El Sistema,” emphasizes social interactions through group instruction and group performances. The randomized control trial was conducted in 16 music centers between May 2012 and November 2013. In total, 2914 children ages 6–14 participated in the experiment, with approximately half receiving an offer of admission to the program in September 2012 and half in September 2013. The treatment group children participated for one semester more than the control group children. After 1 year, full-sample ITT estimates indicate improved self-control (by 0.10 standard deviations) and reduced behavioral difficulties (by 0.08 standard deviations), both significant at 10% after controlling for multiple hypothesis testing. There were no full-sample effects on other domains. Sub-sample effects are larger among (1) children with less-educated mothers and (2) boys, especially those exposed to violence at baseline. In the latter subgroup, we find lower levels of aggressive behavior. We find that the program improved self-control and reduced behavioral difficulties, with the effects concentrated among subgroups of vulnerable children. The results suggest the importance of devising mechanisms to target resources to the most vulnerable children.Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02369315

The Role of Moral Disengagement in the Associations Between Children's Social Goals and Aggression

The construct of moral disengagement has increasingly been used by researchers to account for the asymmetry between children’s moral reasoning and their moral behavior. According to this theory, moral disengagement occurs most aptly when children are motivated to violate their moral beliefs, such as when they hold antisocial goals during social conflict. In line with this, the current study examined whether moral disengagement would mediate the associations among children’s antisocial and prosocial goals and aggressive behavior, both concurrently and over time. Specifically, cross-sectional and longitudinal data from 379 children were examined during and across their fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade school years. Findings provide evidence that moral disengagement mediates the concurrent association between antisocial goals and higher levels of aggressive behavior, as well as the concurrent association between prosocial goals and lower levels of aggressive behavior. Further, moral disengagement emerged as a significant mediator of the longitudinal association between prosocial goals and lower rates of aggressive behavior toward peers across the span of middle childhood. Finally, moral disengagement also emerged as a potential mechanism in the continued endorsement of relationship maintenance goals over time. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications.

Peer victimization and subsequent disruptive behavior in school: The protective functions of anger regulation coping

Peer victimization is linked to adjustment problems in youth, including aggressive behavior, yet not all victimized youth are aggressive. The present study investigated whether youth’s anger regulation coping might attenuate the positive association between peer victimization and subsequent aggressive behavior. Longitudinal data from 485 7th-grade students (55% female, mean age=12.84years) and their teachers were collected in the fall and six months later. Teacher ratings of youth aggressive behavior at follow-up were the primary outcome, with statistical adjustments for baseline aggressive behavior and demographics. Results from multilevel models showed significant interactive effects of baseline anger regulation and peer victimization on residualized teacher-rated aggressive behaviors that were consistent with the hypothesis that anger regulation played a protective role: under high levels of peer victimization, youth with higher levels of anger regulation displayed lower levels of aggressive behavior than their counterparts with lower levels of anger regulation. These findings suggest that targeting and improving students’ ability to regulate their anger may be protective in the face of peer victimization and reduce subsequent aggressive behavior.

Religiosity of Adolescents and their Friends and Network Associates: Homophily and Associations With Antisocial Behavior

This study assessed the similarity of adolescents and their friends and peer network associates in religiosity and the extent to which these relationships were associated with antisocial behavior. The sample included 1010 Indonesian (480 male, 530 female) 8th (13.37 years) and 10th grade (15.36 years) students. Adolescents were similar to their mutual friends and network associates (identified using Social Cognitive Mapping) in religiosity, and the religiosity of both friends and network associates added to male adolescents' self‐religiosity in predicting antisocial behavior; these effects were not present for girls. Peers may associate with others similar to themselves in religiosity and these associations may partially explain why religious boys exhibit low levels of aggressive behavior.

Cross-Sectional Study into the Costs and Impact on Family Functioning of 4-Year-Old Children with Aggressive Behavior

Early-onset aggressive behavior is known for its negative developmental consequences, and the associated high costs for families, the health care system and wider society. Although the origins of aggressive behavior are to be found in early childhood, the costs incurred by aggressive behavior of young children have not been studied extensively. The present study aimed to investigate whether preschool children with a high level of aggressive behavior already differ in the generated amount of costs and impact on family functioning from children with lower levels of aggressive behavior. A population-based sample of 317 preschool children was divided into four groups with different levels of aggression (moderate, borderline, clinical). Parents filled out questionnaires to assess service use (lifetime and past 3 months) and impact on family functioning. Over the past 3 months as well as over the first 4 years of life, children with a clinical level of aggression were more costly than children with a low level of aggression (mean total costs over the past 3 months: low = €167,05 versus clinical € = 1034,83 and mean lifetime costs: low € = 817,37 versus clinical € = 1433,04), due to higher costs of services used by the child. In addition, families of children with a borderline or clinical level of aggressive behavior reported more impairment in their daily functioning than families of children with lower levels of aggression. The findings demonstrate that a high level of aggressive behavior results in high costs and impaired family functioning in the preschool years already.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11121-011-0204-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Developmental effects of early immune stress on aggressive, socially reactive, and inhibited behaviors.

The origins of individual differences in social development are examined in relation to early stress (immune challenge) and social milieu (maternal behavior) in a genetic-developmental analysis using an animal model. Neonatal male mice (5 or 6 days of age) from two lines of mice selectively bred for high versus low levels of inter-male aggressive behavior received a standard immune challenge (i.p. injections of 0.05 mg/kg endotoxin or saline). Animals were reared by their line-specific biological dam or by a foster dam from a line bred without selection. Adult levels of social behaviors were assessed in a dyadic test (age 45-50 days). Mice from the high-aggressive line show more developmental sensitivity to immune challenge than mice from the low-aggressive line, and line differences persist regardless of the early maternal environment. As adults, endotoxin-treated mice from the high-aggressive line have lower levels of aggressive behavior, longer latency to attack, and higher rates of socially reactive and inhibited behaviors compared to saline controls. Developmental effects of endotoxin in the low-aggressive line are minimal: endotoxin increases socially reactive behaviors, compared to saline controls, but only for mice reared by their biological dams. Rearing by foster dams increases social exploration in the low-aggressive line. The findings raise novel questions regarding the openness of behavioral systems to effects of nonobvious but omnipresent features of the environment, such as antigenic load, how these effects are integrated to affect social development and psychopathology, and the nature of intrinsic factors that contribute to individual differences in sensitivity to early stressors.

Behavioral Interactions of Two Solitary, Halictine Bees with Comparisons among Solitary, Communal and Eusocial Species

AbstractLaboratory behavioral experiments were conducted with two solitary, halictine bee species, in the genus Lasioglossum, to examine the nature of behavioral interactions between non‐nestmate females. The experimental design of this study was identical to previous work on both a communal (Kukuk 1992) and a eusocial Lasioglossum species (Breed et al. 1978), thereby providing data for comparison of female‐female interactions in species within a single, very large genus that exhibit different sociality. Both solitary species exhibited low levels of aggressive behavior yet nearly all females were reproductively active, as determined by subsequent dissections. Neither ovarian width nor size was associated with aggression in either species. Interspecific comparisons reveal large differences in cooperation and aggression among the four congeneric species. The communal species exhibits significantly more cooperative and less aggressive behavior than all other species suggesting that communal social behavior in Lasioglossum is not phenetically intermediate between the behavior of solitary and eusocial species.

Effects of peripheral immune activation on social behavior and adrenocortical activity in aggressive mice: Genotype-environment interactions

To explore genetic-developmental differences in the biobehavioral effects of induced illness, males from two lines of mice selectively bred for high or low levels of aggressive behavior were injected with endotoxin (Escherichia coli, LPS: 0.25 mg/kg, 1.25 mg/kg, or 2.5 mg, i.p.) or saline. Body temperature, weight, and locomotor activity were monitored immediately before and 8 and 24 hr after injection. Twenty-four hours after injection, social behaviors were assessed in a 10-min dyadic test, and hypothalamus, spleen, and serum were collected. In both lines, endotoxin treatment increased behavioral immobility ("freezing") and decreased social exploration. Other effects showed line differences: Males from the high-aggressive line had a lower threshold to endotoxin-induced effects on body temperature, weight loss, spleen weight, and corticosterone. Social reactivity (startle response to mild social investigation) increased in the high-aggressive line and decreased in the low-aggressive line after treatment. In the high-aggressive line only, endotoxin decreased attack frequency and increased latency to attack. The interactions between selected line (genotype) and endotoxin treatment (environment) demonstrate that genetic-developmental differences in social and aggressive behavior may indicate the extent to which immune stimuli (e.g., bacteria, viruses, cytokines) function as "biobehavioral stressors." Aggr. Behav. 23:93–105, 1997.© 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Effects of peripheral immune activation on social behavior and adrenocortical activity in aggressive mice: Genotype‐environment interactions

To explore genetic-developmental differences in the biobehavioral effects of induced illness, males from two lines of mice selectively bred for high or low levels of aggressive behavior were injected with endotoxin (Escherichia coli, LPS: 0.25 mg/kg, 1.25 mg/kg, or 2.5 mg, i.p.) or saline. Body temperature, weight, and locomotor activity were monitored immediately before and 8 and 24 hr after injection. Twenty-four hours after injection, social behaviors were assessed in a 10-min dyadic test, and hypothalamus, spleen, and serum were collected. In both lines, endotoxin treatment increased behavioral immobility ("freezing") and decreased social exploration. Other effects showed line differences: Males from the high-aggressive line had a lower threshold to endotoxin-induced effects on body temperature, weight loss, spleen weight, and corticosterone. Social reactivity (startle response to mild social investigation) increased in the high-aggressive line and decreased in the low-aggressive line after treatment. In the high-aggressive line only, endotoxin decreased attack frequency and increased latency to attack. The interactions between selected line (genotype) and endotoxin treatment (environment) demonstrate that genetic-developmental differences in social and aggressive behavior may indicate the extent to which immune stimuli (e.g., bacteria, viruses, cytokines) function as "biobehavioral stressors." Aggr. Behav. 23:93–105, 1997.© 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Increased GABAA-dependent chloride uptake in mice selectively bred for low aggressive behavior.

Selective breeding for aggressive behavior alters GABA-dependent chloride uptake and behavioral response to benzodiazepine treatment. Pharmacological and biochemical studies examined subjects from three lines of adult male ICR mice selectively bred for either high levels or low levels of aggressive behavior, as well as unselected controls. Selective breeding produced two lines of behaviorally distinct males. During 5-min dyadic confrontations with an outbred stimulus animal, untreated low-aggressive mice spent more time in walking, rearing, and social interaction than untreated high-aggressive mice. The three lines also showed different responsiveness to the aggression increasing and decreasing effects as well as the sedative effects of benzodiazepine treatment. High doses of chlordiazepoxide (17, 30 mg/kg) reduced motor behaviors (walk, rear and groom) in the low-aggressive line without altering these behaviors in the high aggressive line. In the high-aggressive line, the same doses of chlordiazepoxide (17, 30 mg/kg) produced a behavioral shift; aggressive behaviors were reduced while social behaviors increased to levels similar to the untreated low-aggressive line. In contrast, only the unselected line pursued and threatened more after a low dose of chlordiazepoxide (3 mg/kg). The three lines also showed alterations at the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. Specific uptake of [3H]Ro-15-1788 was increased in cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus in the low-aggressive line, and was reduced in these areas in high-aggressive line when compared with unselected controls. Similarly, GABA-dependent chloride uptake in cortical synaptoneurosomes was augmented in low-aggressive mice and decreased in high-aggressive mice when compared to unselected controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Teacher Standards and Gender Factors in Special Education Referral?

Data from a prior research project involving 92 teachers from 11 elementary schools were reanalyzed using multiple regression techniques. In the reanalysis, student problem behavior was categorized according to severity (i.e., high or low) and was entered as an independent variable, first with teacher standards and then with teacher standards and gender to explain the variance in teachers’ decisions to refer students for special education services. An interaction between the independent variables in the first analysis showed that teachers with strict standards referred students with low levels of aggressive behavior more frequently than did teachers with lax standards. The opposite was true for students with high levels of aggression. Together, the two-way interactions of student aggression with teacher standards and gender explained 19% of the variance in teachers’ referral decisions.

Effects of castration and home cage residency on aggressive behavior in rats

The effects of castration of both resident and intruder rats on territorial aggressive behavior were studied. The results suggest that residence in a home cage is more important than gonadal status in determining the outcome of an aggressive encounter. Resident rats were more likely to be dominant especially if they were intact. Intact residents directed less aggressive behavior toward castrated intruders than toward intact intruders. Intruder rats generally showed low levels of aggressive behavior and were only dominant when the resident had been castrated. Thus, the aggressive behavior of a male rat depends upon both his gonadal status and that of his opponent.

Endocrine coordination in rhesus monkeys: Female responses to the male

Female rhesus monkeys were captured from the free-ranging colony at La Parguera, Puerto Rico during the non-mating season and paired with testosterone propionate-treated and control males daily for 12 weeks. Testosterone propionate-treated males displayed high levels of sexual behavior and low levels of aggressive behavior compared to control males. Pairing females with such sexually active or inactive males had only minor effects on female sexual behavior and no measurable influence on ovarian cyclicity. These results indicate that sexual activity of males apparently failed to coordinate reproductive changes in females. Reproductive coordination previously reported in females may be due to interactions among females.