Using Crime Data to Assess Longitudinal Relationships Between Community Violent Crime and Aggressive Behavior Among At-Risk Youth

The goal of this study was to assess longitudinal, predictive relationships between community violent crime and reactive and proactive aggression. Community violent crime data were gathered from local law enforcement agencies and combined with an existing dataset of at-risk youth. Aggression was assessed by parents using the Reactive and Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ). Data were examined over four time points. Autoregressive cross-lagged modeling was used to test two models: one for proactive aggression and one for reactive aggression. Results revealed a positive relationship between community violent crime and proactive aggression, whereas the model including reactive aggression had poor model fit. Therefore, results support reactive and proactive aggression as distinct constructs. Findings also demonstrate that publicly accessible violent crime data can be used to predict children’s behavior over time. Finally, results have important implications for preventive interventions for at-risk youth.

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The relationship between reactive and proactive Aggression and emotional and behavioral difficulties: Criterion validity of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) among preadolescents

Journal of Human Sciences ◽

10.14687/jhs.v14i3.4494 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 2553

Author(s):

Aslı Uz Baş ◽

İrfan Yurdabakan

Keyword(s):

Stepwise Regression ◽

Criterion Validity ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Behavioral Difficulties ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

School Students ◽

Aggression Questionnaire ◽

Strengths And Difficulties ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression ◽

The Relationship

The present study aimed to assess the criterion validity of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) in a Turkish sample of preadolescents. Participants consisted of 379 middle school students (190 boys and 189 girls) aged 11 to 15 years. In this study, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used as the criterion instrument. Findings from stepwise regression analysis revealed that conduct problems were the strongest predictor of both reactive and proactive aggression. Additionally, reactive aggression was uniquely predicted by emotional symptoms and hyperactivity, whereas proactive aggression was uniquely predicted by prosocial behavior. Our results indicate that the RPQ has acceptable criterion validity for use in Turkish preadolescents.

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Factorial analysis and invariance by sex and age of the Anger Rumination Scale ARS Spanish version

Anales de Psicología ◽

10.6018/analesps.394021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 475-482

Author(s):

Ronald Toro ◽

Juan García-García ◽

Flor Zaldívar-Basurto

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Factor Model ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Anger Rumination ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Aggression Questionnaire ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression ◽

Perseverative Thinking ◽

Probabilistic Sample

La rumiación ira es pensamiento perseverativo sobre un evento personalmente significativo ocurrido a la persona o las demás que conlleva a la ira y se constituye como factor de riesgo para la agresión. El objetivo fue realizar un análisis factorial confirmatorio e invarianza por sexo y edades de la Anger Rumination Scale [ARS]. Se conformó una muestra no probabilística de 640 personas con entre 18 y 63 años (M = 31.07, SD = 11.27), agrupadas por sexos (252 hombres, 378 mujeres) y edades (278 menores de 25 años, 352 mayores de 25 años). Los instrumentos fueron el ARS y el cuestionario de agresión reactiva y proactiva RPQ. Se encontró que el ARS presenta un ajuste favorable en un modelo de cuatro factores correlacionados con covarianzas residuales. A su vez, resultó invariante entre sexos y edades luego de imponer restricciones progresivas en el modelo confirmado, y presentó correlaciones significativas con la agresión reactiva y proactiva como evidencias de la validez de criterio predictivo. Se concluyó que el ARS presenta indicadores adecuados de fiabilidad y validez para ser usado en el contexto colombiano. Anger rumination is perseverative thinking about a personally significant event that occurred to the person or others that leads to anger and constitutes a risk factor for aggression. The aim was to perform a confirmatory factor analysis and invariance by sex and age of the Anger Rumination Scale [ARS]. A non-probabilistic sample of 640 people between 18 and 63 years old (M = 31.07, SD = 11.27), grouped by sex (252 men, 378 women) and ages (278 under 25 years old, 352 over 25 years old) was formed. The instruments were the ARS and the RPQ reactive and proactive aggression questionnaire. It was found that the ARS presents a favorable fit in a four-factor model correlated with residual covariances. In turn, it was invariant between sexes and ages after imposing progressive restrictions on the confirmed model and presented significant correlations with reactive and proactive aggression as evidence of the validity of predictive criteria. It was concluded that the ARS presents adequate indicators of reliability and validity to be used in the Colombian context.

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Lower Levels of Classroom Aggression Predict Stronger Relations Between Peer Victimization and Reactive Versus Proactive Aggression

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260521997956 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052199795

Author(s):

Michael T. Morrow ◽

Julie A. Hubbard ◽

Megan K. Bookhout ◽

Marissa A. Docimo ◽

Lauren E. Swift ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peer Victimization ◽

Reactive Aggression ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Self Report ◽

Fifth Grade ◽

Classroom Norms ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression ◽

Low Levels ◽

Differential Relations

We examined the concurrent relations of children’s reactive and proactive aggression with their experience of peer victimization. Extending previous research, we assessed these relations at both the child and classroom levels. We predicted that reactive aggression would relate positively to peer victimization, proactive aggression would relate negatively to peer victimization, and that these relations would vary with classroom levels of aggression. Participants included 1,291 fourth- and fifth-grade children (681 girls; M age = 10.14 years) and their 72 teachers from 9 schools in one public school district in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Children completed self-report measures of peer victimization and teachers completed measures of aggression for each child in their classrooms. Via two-level regression (level 1 = child; level 2 = classroom), reactive aggression related positively to peer victimization and proactive aggression related negatively to peer victimization. The positive relation between reactive aggression and peer victimization was only significant in classrooms with low levels of reactive aggression. The negative relation between proactive aggression and peer victimization was only significant in classrooms with low levels of proactive aggression. Our hypotheses were supported and offered further evidence for differential relations of reactive and proactive aggression with peer victimization at the child level, while demonstrating the important role of classroom norms for aggression in moderating these relations.

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Reactive and proactive aggression in clinical adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The moderating role of gender and comorbidities

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/13591045211055068 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910452110550

Author(s):

Peter Vida ◽

Judit Balazs ◽

Julia Gadoros ◽

Peter Nagy ◽

Jozsef Halasz

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Aggressive Behavior ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Aggression Questionnaire ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression ◽

The Difference

Aggression is well-known problem in adolescent with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but the precise relation of reactive and proactive aggression by gender and comorbidities has not been characterized in this population. The aim of this study was to assess the level of reactive and proactive aggression in adolescents with ADHD and in matched non-ADHD clinical controls. The level of aggression was assessed by the Reactive and Proactive Aggression Questionnaire in 391 adolescents with ADHD and in 391 matched non-ADHD clinical controls. The selection of adolescents with ADHD was representative for a three-year–long period in Vadaskert Child Psychiatry Hospital. General Linear Model was used to assess the difference by ADHD, gender, and comorbidities on the level of reactive and proactive aggression. The presence of ADHD was associated with higher levels of reactive and proactive aggression. In girls, the effect of ADHD on reactive aggression was more profound. The presence of oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder in both groups resulted in higher levels of aggression. Our data suggest that adolescents with ADHD have higher level of aggressive behavior, and girls are especially vulnerable in terms of reactive aggressive behavior.

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Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Properties of the Reactive and Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) Across Genders

10.31234/osf.io/akdjn ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Atefeh Rezaei ◽

Mohsen Dehghani

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Child Behavior Checklist ◽

Factor Model ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Future Research ◽

Persian Version ◽

Aggression Questionnaire ◽

Strengths And Difficulties ◽

Structural Invariance ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression

Aggression is an important risk factor that predisposes adolescents to disruptive and criminal behaviours. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the structural invariance and psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) across genders among adolescents. A sample of 450 students (Mage = 14 years, SD = 0.81) was recruited randomly and completed the Persian version of the RPQ, Child Behavior Checklist and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Although the two-factor model obtained the best fit across genders, the results did not support the equivalence of factor loadings across groups. These findings replicated the distinction of reactive and proactive aggression while implied different models of the RPQ based on gender. Suggestions for future research and a more accurate assessment of these two kinds of aggression are further discussed.

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Differential Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Borderline Personality Disorder

10.1101/452607 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessica R. Peters ◽

Sarah A. Owens ◽

Katja M. Schmalenberger ◽

Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul

Keyword(s):

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Aggressive Behavior ◽

Reactive Aggression ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Cycle Phase ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression

AbstractBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by rapidly shifting symptoms, including intense anger and aggressive behavior. Understanding how fluctuations in ovarian hormones across the menstrual cycle may contribute to symptom instability is key for accurate assessment of BPD symptoms and effective interventions. Reactive and proactive aggression, as well as anger in and out, were assessed daily in 15 physically healthy, unmedicated naturally cycling female individuals without dysmenorrhea meeting criteria for BPD across 35 days. Urine LH surge and salivary progesterone were used to confirm ovulation and verify cycle phase. Cyclical worsening of symptoms was evaluated using multilevel models to evaluate symptom differences between cycle phases. Both forms of aggressive behavior demonstrated marked cycle effects, with reactive aggression highest during perimenstrual cycle phases, co-occurring with increases in anger in and out. In contrast, highest levels of proactive aggression were observed during the follicular and ovulatory phases, when emotional symptoms and anger were otherwise at lowest levels. These findings highlight the importance of identifying the function of aggression when considering potential psychological and biological influences. Naturally cycling individuals with BPD may be at elevated risk for perimenstrual worsening of a range of interpersonally reactive symptoms, including reactive aggression, whereas proactive aggression may occur more in phases characterized by less emotional and cognitive vulnerability and greater reward sensitivity. Research on aggression in this population should consider cycle effects. Cycling individuals with BPD attempting to reduce aggressive behavior may benefit from cycle-tracking to increase awareness of these effects and to develop appropriate strategies.

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Parsing Associations Between Dimensions of Empathy and Reactive and Proactive Aggression

Journal of Personality Disorders ◽

10.1521/pedi_2021_35_522 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Isabella M. Palumbo ◽

Robert D. Latzman

Keyword(s):

Reactive Aggression ◽

Higher Order ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Order Model ◽

Negatively Associated ◽

Item Level ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression ◽

Broad Dimension

The broad dimension of empathy has been shown to underlie various forms of psychopathology, most extensively studied for the externalizing spectrum of psychopathology. However, associations between subdimensions of empathy and functions of aggression remain unclear. The current study (N = 409) aimed to investigate common and specific associations between a higher-order model of aggression, comprising reactive aggression (RA) and proactive aggression (PA) factors with an overarching general aggression factor, and item-level factor analytically derived dimensions of empathy: affective/self-oriented empathy and cognitive/other-oriented empathy. Results demonstrated specific and opposing associations between dimensions of empathy and the general aggression factor, such that affective/self-oriented empathy was positively associated, and cognitive/other-oriented empathy was negatively associated with general aggression. Affective/self-oriented empathy was positively associated with RA, whereas cognitive/other-oriented empathy was negatively associated with RA and PA. Results confirm the importance of considering the multidimensionality of empathy and aggression and suggest both common and distinct pathways from empathy to aggression.

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Gender Differences in the Personality Correlates of Reactive and Proactive Aggression in a Spanish Sample of Young Adults

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520957697 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052095769

Author(s):

Lorena Maneiro ◽

Olalla Cutrín ◽

Xosé Antón Gómez-Fraguela

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Young Adults ◽

Sensation Seeking ◽

Reactive Aggression ◽

Psychopathic Traits ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Current Debate ◽

Personality Correlates ◽

Conceptual Distinction ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression

Since the conceptual distinction of reactive and proactive aggression has been proposed, numerous studies have tried to disentangle the correlates of each function of aggression. While reactive aggression tends to be more strongly related to impulsivity, angry reactivity, or hostility, proactive aggression has proved to be more associated with psychopathic traits and goal-directed behaviors. However, in addition to the current debate about the actual distinction of reactive and proactive aggression, the study of gender differences is still scarce. Thus, the aim of the current study is to evaluate the distinctiveness of reactive and proactive aggression by means of the examination of their differential personality correlates (i.e., HEXACO, psychopathic traits, and impulsivity facets), as well as the assessment of gender differences in those relationships. To that end, a sample composed of 326 young adults aged 18–34 was recruited in Spain. The results evidenced unique associations of reactive and proactive aggression with a set of personality traits, including the HEXACO factors, psychopathic traits, and impulsivity facets, both at raw and residual level. Furthermore, when all the variables were entered in the model, proactive aggression remained strongly related to the factor of Honesty/humility and Emotionality, whereas reactive aggression remained associated with the impulsive/irresponsive factor of psychopathy and, specifically, with the facet of negative urgency, as well as with lack of Agreeableness. Likewise, some gender differences emerged as regards certain correlates. Specifically, proactive aggression was related with lack of Agreeableness and sensation seeking only in males and with the impulsive/irresponsive factor of psychopathy only in females, although these differences were not statistically significant. The conceptual and practical implications of these finding are discussed in terms of prevention.

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Sex Differences in the Relationships between Forms of Peer Victimization and Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Schoolchildren

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105443 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5443

Author(s):

Annis Lai-Chu Fung

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Peer Victimization ◽

Social Exclusion ◽

Reactive Aggression ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Self Report ◽

Multiple Forms ◽

Physical Victimization ◽

Reactive And Proactive Aggression ◽

The Relationship

The original study investigated sex differences in the relationships between multiple forms of peer victimization (physical victimization, verbal victimization, and social exclusion) and subtypes of aggression (reactive aggression and proactive aggression) in schoolchildren. A self-report questionnaire assessing levels of peer victimization and aggression was administered to 3790 schoolchildren (1916 males and 1874 females) aged 11 to 17 (M = 13.19; SD = 1.17) from 10 middle schools in Hong Kong. The pure effect of each subtype of aggression were evaluated by statistically controlling for another subtype of aggression in analyses. Furthermore, participants were classified as non-aggressors, reactive aggressors, proactive aggressors, and reactive–proactive aggressors to investigate their differences in specific forms of peer victimization. Data were analyzed by hierarchical linear regression and ANOVA. The results showed: (1) Sex significantly moderated the relationship between specific forms of peer victimization and subtypes of aggression; (2) In males, reactive aggression was positively predicted by verbal victimization; proactive aggression was positively predicted by physical victimization and social exclusion, and negatively predicted by verbal victimization; (3) In females, reactive aggression was positively predicted by physical victimization and social exclusion; proactive aggression was negatively predicted by social exclusion; and (4) Reactive–proactive aggressors reported more physical victimization than other types of aggressors. The findings have significant implications for distinctive functions of reactive and proactive aggression and the need to develop differentiated interventions for male and female schoolchildren.

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