Psychological Development and Education ›› 2014, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (1): 105-111.

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Distinguishing Reactive Aggression from Proactive Aggression

ZHOU Guang-dong, FUNG Annis Lai-chu   

  1. Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • Online:2014-01-15 Published:2014-01-15

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Abstract: The distinction between reactively and proactively aggressive children is not only on the underlying goal and function of aggression, but also on other aspects, such as social cognition, emotion, behaviors, peer relations and parenting styles. Children with reactive aggression are characterized by having more hostile attribution biases, negative emotion, internalizing problems, and poor peer and family relations. In contrast, children with proactive aggression are characterized by having more positive outcome expectation for aggression, externalizing problems, having friends with more delinquencies, and having parents with indulgent parenting style. In addition, the present study also reviewed the development and gender difference of two types of aggression. Finally, possible problems in existing studies are posed, and the future directions of research are forecasted.

Key words: reactive aggression, proactive aggression, social information processing model

CLC Number: 

  • B844.1

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