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Empathy and rejection sensitivity in relation to reactive, proactive and relational aggression in 10- to 12-year-old children

Authors :
Reilly, N. L.
Publication Year :
2007
Publisher :
University College London (University of London), 2007.

Abstract

The hypothesis that empathy inhibits aggression and therefore that a deficit in empathy may underlie aggressive behaviour (Feshbach, 1978) was investigated in this review. Twenty empirical papers examining the association between empathy and aggression in children and adolescents were reviewed. The studies revealed inconsistent results, particularly in relation to children. Amongst the studies of adolescent samples, there tended to emerge a significant negative association between empathy and aggression. More recent studies, and studies employing measures of situational empathy, yielded the most consistent evidence for a negative association between empathy and aggression. Gender differences were rarely reported, but one recent study offered some tentative support for the notion of a differential association between empathy and certain forms of aggression in girls compared with boys. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed in light of the results of this review.

Subjects

Subjects :
616.89

Details

Language :
English
Database :
British Library EThOS
Publication Type :
Dissertation/ Thesis
Accession number :
edsble.639511
Document Type :
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation