Reactive and proactive aggression : effects of psychological control, behavioral control and attachment

• Main Authors: Ng, Jing Xiu, Chua, Michelle Hui Xuan, Lee, Xinyi, Tan, Heidi Rui Ying
• Other Authors: Joyce Pang Shu Min
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/44799
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study examined the main effects of parental psychological control, parental behavioral control, attachment, and the moderating effect of attachment in the relationship between each type of parental control and reactive and proactive aggression. Self-report questionnaires were administered to 1244 secondary school students (mean age = 13.26) in Singapore. Results demonstrated significant main effects of psychological control and attachment but non-significant main effect of behavioral control on reactive aggression. In contrast, there were significant main effects of psychological control and behavioral control but non-significant main effect of attachment on proactive aggression. Attachment did not moderate the effect of psychological or behavioral control on either reactive or proactive aggression. Implications for prevention and intervention programs to reduce adolescents’ aggression are discussed.