Development of Aggression: Causes and Trajectories (From Punishment, Places and Perpetrators: Developments in Criminology and Criminal Justice Research, P 232-246, 2004, Gerben Bruinsma, Henk Elffers, and Jan de Keijser, eds. -- See NCJ-206450)

• NCJ Number: 206464
• Author(s): Willem Koops; Bram Orobio de Castro
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter reviews research on the links between aggression and antisocial behavior and juvenile offending.

Abstract

The chapter begins with a discussion of the concept of causality in developmental theory. It notes that Bryant (1990) suggests that developmental psychologists face two major issues: mapping the developmental course of aggression and the causes of aggression development. Regarding the first issue, practically all developmental psychologists agree that excessive physical aggression at an early age predicts antisocial behavior in adolescence and violent offending in adulthood. The causes of aggression development, however, are difficult to find in the research literature, since the early developmental stages are often defined in negative terms. Developmental psychology must collect more appropriate longitudinal data; and to identify the causes of aggression, experimental research must manipulate the course of aggression development through interventions. Following this review of causality in developmental theory, the chapter discusses the definition of aggression and the decision of the authors to restrict this chapter to issues of physical aggression. A review of the literature on the development of aggression notes agreement among researchers that severe forms of antisocial behavior have their roots in early aggression. Research on trajectories of aggression development is also discussed. Research needs and methods in the areas of aggression development and causes are then discussed. Some conclusions are that experimental developmental research requires a massive manipulation of possible causal mechanisms (interventions); determination of the causes of aggression development must stem from the determination of the effects of interventions; individual differences in aggression should be studied in terms of trajectories; an understanding of individual differences in aggression requires intervention studies that address causal developmental analyses (intervention studies); and intervention studies should be based on knowledge gained from developmental science. 52 references