This article is based on a doctoral dissertation submitted by the first author, under the direction of the second author, to the University of Massachusetts.

Investigates how socioeconomic status, sex, and age of admission to a child psychiatry ward influenced the clinical picture of aggressive conduct disorder among 58 affected children. As little evidence of variation in any of the three variables was found, results reinforced the idea that the disorder is a valid psychiatric syndrome. (RH)

Examines the effects of the child's age and the circumstances surrounding the child's aggression, as well as the sex of parent and child, in determining parents' judgments of children's aggressive behavior. Subjects were 160 upper-middle-class parents (80 pairs of mothers and fathers). (MP)

Investigates the representative frequencies of aggression of 43 children at the ages of 2 and 5 years. Dimensions of physical aggression at age 2 predicted dimensions of physical aggression at age 5. Frequency, initiations, and average length of aggression decreased between 2 and 5 years of age. (RJC)

Investigated humor response to aggressive cartoons using ratings of pain and funniness of cartoons by college students (n=93) and older adults (n=61). Found no significant age differences; however, sex differences were found. Females exhibited an inverted-U relationship between pain ratings and funniness ratings. For males there was no…

Investigates how aggressive behavior is differentially perceived by two types of perceivers, teachers and peers (N=765), as a function of student neighborhood, gender, and grade level. Teachers in the more violent community perceived students to be relatively less aggressive and more similar across genders. Peers in the less violent community…

The role of inhibition as related to sex differences in aggression was investigated using 20 nursery school and 20 second grade children. A dart gun was employed, with choices of four targets--drawings of a boy, a girl, a zebra, and an object. There were three sessions and eight target choices per session. Choice of the human target was assumed to…

Used national representative sample of persons who date to examine processes surrounding use and receipt of rational, verbally aggressive, and physically aggressive tactics in disputes. Results showed that women were at least as likely as men to engage in physical disputes. Young, lower class, and those who drank before a conflict were more prone…

Fifth-grade and kindergarten boys and girls were exposed to a violent televised episode introduced as a fictional portrayal or as a news broadcast or were not exposed to the violent episode. Aggressive reponses and helping responses were recorded immediately following exposure. Results revealed girls were less aggressive in the no-TV and reality…

This study investigated the relationship between teacher ratings of passive aggression and active aggression and age and sex in a group of 55 preschool-aged children. (MS)

Considers age and sex differences on aggressive and responsive communication traits. States that participants reported their verbal aggressiveness, argumentativeness, communication apprehension, cognitive flexibility, and other characteristics. Finds significant interactions for argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness. Concludes that studying…

Examined the relationship between three behaviors (physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behaviors) and three social outcomes (peer rejection, acceptance, and reciprocal friendships) in 131 third-graders and 135 sixth-graders. Found that among girls, but not boys, relational aggression explained variance in rejection beyond…

Examined responses of 6- to 7- and 9 to 10-year olds to adult-child conflict, compared them to responses to adult-adult conflict, and further examined responses in relation to verbal and physical expression of anger. Participants in the conflict, the form of anger, and the age and gender of the subject moderated some responses. (DR)