Parental Aggression-Related Beliefs and Behaviors as Predictors of their Children's Aggression

62 Pages·2015·1.04 MB·English

by  Aaron Sedlar

PARENTAL AGGRESSION-RELATED BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS AS PREDICTORS OF THEIR
CHILDREN'S AGGRESSION RELATED BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS

Aaron Sedlar

A Thesis

Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green
State University in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF ARTS
December 2015
Committee:
Eric Dubow, Advisor
Marie S. Tisak
Carolyn J. Tompsett
© 2015
Aaron Sedlar
All Rights Reserved
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Abstract

Eric Dubow, Advisor

Youth aggression is a serious problem not only in terms of its immediate effects, but in its
future consequences as well. In addition, whether children are aggressive or not, their proneness
to aggressive behavior remains relatively stable throughout the lifespan (Huesmann, Dubow, &
Boxer, 2009). For decades, researchers have been interested in how aggressive behavior is
developed and maintained. The predominant theory in the field of developmental psychology is
the social cognitive model. This thesis focuses on parental influences on childhood aggression.
The data for this study come from a project on the development of aggression within and across
generations (Columbia County Longitudinal Study; Dubow, Boxer, & Huesmann, 2009; Eron,
Walder, & Lefkowitz, 1971; Lefkowitz, Eron, Walder, & Huesmann, 1977; Huesmann, Dubow,
& Boxer, 2009). I examine the links among parental aggression, parents’ and children’s social
cognitions, and children’s own aggression. The degree to which parent variables (parent
aggression, parent social cognitions, inter-parental aggression, and parental punishment) predict
child aggressive behavior as mediated by child social cognitions supporting aggression (a
composite of hostile attribution bias, normative beliefs about aggression, aggressive fantasy, and
social problem solving) are investigated. Results support a mediational model in which parental
aggressive punishment predicts their children developing more aggressive social cognitions,
which in turn predicts children having higher aggression. Results suggest that parental
punishment—specifically verbal punishment—plays a significant role in increasing childhood
aggression.
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For Jane
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Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge my advisor, Eric Dubow, for his tireless efforts in
crafting, honing, and developing this thesis. Without his assiduous guidance, this thesis would
not be what it is today. It would be difficult to imagine an advisor who is more available when
you need them; more fastidious in their edits; or with a more curious mind. All these qualities
helped to make this thesis a stronger and more complete document than it ever would have been
without them. Thanks, Eric. Thanks is due to my thesis committee members, Marie Tisak and
Carolyn Tompsett, as well. Their insightful comments and broad knowledge of the field made for
a stronger thesis.
I would also like to acknowledge my family, especially my mother and father. All of their
sacrifice, support, and love have allowed me to find a career that I can be proud of and passionate
about. Throughout the years, they have gone without more than they needed to so that I could
have what I needed—or in many cases simply wanted. Although I did not inherit my father’s
aptitude for figures and building, he did give me his work ethic, without which this thesis would
not exist. And though I did not receive my mother’s organization and attention to detail, I
received her supportive and compassionate character, which has led me to where I am today. I
love you guys; thank you.
Finally, I acknowledge Jane, who has been here for the myriad ups and downs of my
graduate career. Throughout it all, she has been here to tell me to calm down, to freak out, to
work harder, or whatever other helpful advice I needed at the time. Without her to inspire me, I
would not be completing this thesis, I would not be in graduate school, and I would not be half
the person that I am today. She allows me to be myself. She forces me to be myself. There is no
other way she would have me. Thank you, Jane, for all that you have done for me and all that I
know you will continue to do.
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Table of Contents
Page
Introduction………………………………………………………………………..... ........... 1
Theories of the development of aggressive
behavior…………………………………………...................................................... 1
Social cognitive models…………………………………………. ................ 1
Empirical studies of specific social cognitions…………………………. ..... 5
Parental behaviors and social cognitions about aggression as predictors of children’s
aggression and social cognitions………...….......................................................….. 7
Parenting behaviors and cognitions and children’s aggressive behavior........ 7
Parenting behaviors and cognitions and children’s social cognitions related to
aggression………...… .............................................................................….. 8
Child social cognitions as a mediator of the relation between exposure to aggression and
the child’s own aggression ………………...………………. ................………….... 11
The Present Study………………...………………. ..............................………….... 13
Hypothesis 1: Main effect predictors of children’s aggression…………….. 15
Hypothesis 2: Children’s aggression-related social cognitions as mediators of
parental effects on children’s aggression……………………. ..………….... 15
Method………………………………………………………………………..... .................. 17
Participants…………………………………………................................................. 17
Procedures…………………………………………. ................................................. 18
Measures…………………………………………. ................................................... 19
Aggression measures…………………………………………. .................... 19
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General aggression …………………………………………. ....................... 20
Severe physical aggression…………………………………………. ........... 20
Aggressive personality …………………………………………. ................. 21
Predictors of Child Aggression…………………………………………. ..... 21
Parents’ aggression…………………………………………. ....................... 21
Aggression in the family…………………………………………. ............... 21
Parental Aggressive Punishment………………………………………….... 21
Inter-parental (spousal) aggression………………………………………. ... 22
Parent and child aggressive cognitions……………………………………. . 23
Aggressive scripts………………………………………. ............................. 23
Aggressive fantasy………………………………………. ............................ 24
Hostile attribution biases……………………………………….................... 25
Normative beliefs about aggression………………………………………. .. 26
Results………………………………………………………………………..... ................... 27
Preliminary Analyses…………………………………………. ................................ 27
Data reduction: Reducing variables within domains .................................... 27
Demographic differences in the major study variables.................................. 28
Hypothesis 1: Main effect predictors of children’s aggression ..................... 29
Hypothesis 2: Children’s Aggressive social cognitions as mediators of parental
effects on children’s aggression…… ............................................................. 29
Supplementary analyses…………………………………………. ................ 31
Discussion………………………………………………………………………..... ............. 33
The parenting environment …………………………………………. ...................... 33
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Children’s social cognitions about aggression and their own aggressive behavior….. 34
Children’s social cognitions about aggression as a mediator of the relation between
parental aggression and child aggression…………………………………………… 35
Limitations and future directions………………………………………….………... 37
References……………………………………………………………………………………. 40
Appendix A. …………………………………………………………… ……………............ 51
Appendix B.………………………………………………………………………………….. 52
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List of Tables
Table Page
1 Correlations of the Continuous Demographic Variables with Major Study
Variables…….. .......................................................................................................... 47
2 Correlations among Parent and Child Aggression Variables .................................... 48
3 Correlations among Decomposed Study Variables ................................................... 50
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List of Figures
Figure Page
1 Hypothesis of Relationship among Major Study Variables……............................... 46
2 Structural Model of Relationship between Parental Predictors of Aggression and
Children’s Aggression, With Child Cognitions as a Mediator................................... 49