Aggression Among Children in Four Cultures

Abstract

Behavioral aggression was observed among 192 3- to 9-year-old children in naturalistic settings in Belize, Kenya, Nepal, and American Samoa. Results showed that (a) boys exhibited aggression in approximately 10% of their social behaviors, girls in 6%, and in all four cultures the aggression of boys was more frequent than that of girls at a marginally significant level or better; (b) the aggression of boys occurred in the presence of large numbers (and proportions) of same-sex peers; (c) aggression declined with age; (d) only 5% of children’s aggressive interaction was directed toward adults (individuals aged 17 years or older), whereas 30% of their other, nonaggressive interaction was directed toward adults; (e) the presence of either parent tended to be associated with less aggression; and (f) aggression was displayed more frequently in the two patrilineal cultures (Kenya and Nepal) and less frequently in the other two cultures.