Some Effects of Previous Patterns of Aggression on. Interpersonal Relations in New Groups^ Sidney Rosen

Transcription

1 Some Effects of Previous Patterns of Aggression on Interpersonal Relations in New Groups^ Sidney Rosen Research Center for Gro'up Dynamics University of Michigan The problem of bridging the theoretical gaps between personality dynamics and interpersonal dynamics is usually approached by establishing rather tenuous unsystematic threads between isolated attributes of the person and isolated segments of small group life. One source of diffi culty is the lack of a common semantic denominator which would connect the two; another is the f a i l u r e to sample more than a narrow crosssection of interpersonal experience in a given study. The investigation to be reported here was undertaken with these difficulties in mind; at best i t is only a small step in the direction of overcoming them. This paper will explore two behavior patterns of maladjustment, an overaggressive pattern and an overinhibited pattern, with respect to the differential impact they have on the given subject's (S's) subsequent relations in a new group. Our concern here is with pre-adolescent and young adolescent boys. The overaggressive and o v e r i n h i b i t e d behavior patterns are conceived as occupying the two extremes of a continum with respect to the overt expression of aggression. The medial position on this continum is denoted as an intermediate category. Operationally, this t h i r d category is a residue of those Ss who do not fall in either of the other two categories. Theoretically, however, this intermediate category is con- Paper presented at the 6nd annual convention of the A.P.A., 195k* This investigation was conducted under grant from the National Institute of Mental Health,

2 Rosen - - sidered as most consonant with interpersonal adjustment. The overaggressive pattern is comparable to the familiar pattern of ego dis'turbance described by Redl and Wineman. The overaggressive pattern can also be linked to the extrapunitive type of reaction to frustration which Rosenzweig described, and likewise the overinhibited pattern to the intrapunitive type of reaction. In addition, all three categories have a family resemblance to the three kinds of ego-control systems postulated by Block and Block; namely, over-controllers, appropriate controllers, and under-controllers. Finally, two of the behavior syndromes of maladjustment which were investigated by Hewitt and Jenkins, unsocialized aggressive behavior and overinhibited behavior, are directly related to the overaggressive and the overinhibited patterns here discussed. The child exhibiting an overaggressive behavior pattern is conceived to be deficient in internal restraints and the guilt feelings associated with such restraints. A product of punitive, rejecting (or indifferent) parents, he is considered as venting his feelings of host i l i t y directly on both social as well as nonsocial objects. On the other hand, the boy showing an overinhibited pattern of behavior is thought to approximate to some degree the conventional image of the adult neurotic: he is pictured as a product of repressive or overprotective parental discipline who is immobilized by internal restraints and guilt, who is indecisive, fearful of others, submissive, often ailment-ridden, and who holds himself in low regard. The intermediate boy is best described as one who has achieved a balance between what Redl calls the "impulsive system" and the "control

3 Rosen - - system," i.e., the freedom to act but with due regard to consequences. On the assumption that there is continuity in social experience, and that this typology is anchored in reality, 19 comparative hypotheses were derived and tested with regard to the S's relations with peers and adult leader in a new group. In view of time limitations, the rather extensive rationale behind these hypotheses will not be presented here; in addition, the hypotheses will be described only in connection with the overaggressive boy. It was hypothesized that the overaggressive S, following entry in a new group would be a highly active producer of spontaneous behavior, hence a highly successful initiator of behavioral contagion; that he would make many successful attempts to influence others directly, and would do so in a demanding manner and by using or threatening the use of force; that he would show relatively little affection toward peers, and little compliance with their requests, We also expected his peers to regard him as least likable, as having only average power, and average fighting ability. It was also expected that he would provoke the adult leader into making many directive attempts to influence him which he would resist highly. The adult was expected to regard the boy as highly impulsive, as a low group conformist, and as low in relating himself to the adult. In addition, i t was anticipated that S would perceive himself as acting quite independently of the adult, but would find i t imperative to call the adult's attention to his presumed independence. Since, however, his quarrel is also with peers, we expected to find him less inclined to make either adult or peers the exclusive target of his

4 Rosen - k - behavior, but rather to occupy an intermediate position in this area. Method The Ss studied were 60 pre-adolescents and young adolescents organized into eight groups, in a four-week camp for emotionally disturbed boys. The files of each child contained a case history report which was submitted by the referring social agency prior to the boy's arrival at camp. In a previous study a maladjustment inventory was constructed to process this case history content. The inventory consisted of U items dealing in part with such background conditions as type of parental discipline, but giving weight chiefly to behavior symptoms. For the present study the maladjustment inventory was reexamined, and two sets of items were selected to represent the overaggressive and the overinhibited patterns. The overaggressive syndrome was characterized by 11 items such as impulsiveness, bullying, destructiveness, pathological lying and theft. The overinhibited syndrome was characterized by 10 items such as withdrawing behavior, enuresis, overdependence, indecision. Categorization into either pattern depended on the boy having been rated high on at least $0% of the relevant items. Those Ss who fell into neither pattern ware classified into an intermediate, relatively adjusted category. In all, Ss appeared in the overaggressive category, 1 Ss in the ovorinhibited category, leaving k Ss for the intermediate category. Nineteen relations at camp. criterion variables were used to assess interpersonal (These variables appear in Table 1.) The raw data for the criterion variables were obtained at camp by an independent re-

5 Rosen search team through daily observation of interpersonal behavior, and through standardized individual interviews with Ss and counselors. Quantitative behavior samples were taken across a variety of daily activities and situations, involving peer relations alone as well as peer-adult relations. It should be emphasized that the case history data and the camp data were independent of each other both in time and place, and that each was processed independently of the other, I should say that reliability of categorizing the case history data as well as inter-observer reliability were such as to satisfy acceptable levels of significance. Results The three categories of Ss were then compared with respect to mean rank on each of the 19 criterion variables. Most of the predictions were realized. For example, if you look at Table 1 you will see that among other things, the overaggressive Ss were generally most active, coercive, and successful in attempting to influence peers, and highly resistant to peer and adult demands. Yet their peers attributed only average power and fighting ability to them (Table 1: variables b, d, e, g, p, j, k). The intermediate Ss, though less manifestly influential, were seen by peers to have higher power and fighting ability, and were more liked than the overaggressive Ss (Table 1: e, j, k, l ). The overinhibited Ss wore least active, least coercive, least successful in influencing others, and conformed most to peer and adult standards (Table 1: b, d, e, g, p). Some further refinements which support the initial results were undertaken. Without going into detail, we might say that they

6 Rosen included the construction of criterion patterns out of the 19 criterion predictions. Discussion and Conclusions How shall we evaluate the results? Since a number of criterion variables are known to be intercorrelated, a conventional statement of statistical significance is inappropriate at this time. The necessity for replication with larger samples and for additional theoretical and methodological refinement is clearly indicated. But the surprising consistency with which the data f i t the theoretical patterns seems to us to warrant considerable confidence in the results. We might add that the element of"surprise does not apply to the content of the variables, and the involvement of seven other judges each making separate results per se, but rather to the fact that our theoretical expectations could be demonstrated empirically. In short, the evidence strongly suggests that objective extrapolations can be made from the more clinically oriented syndromes of aggression to interpersonal perceptions and behaviors in new groups. Incidentally, it is our opinion that these extrapolations were facil itated to an unusual degree by the use of a camp setting. The special significance of the camp setting is that i t provides the investigator with a variety of natural "test situations" on an around-the-clock basis and under conditions of unavoidable intimacy among subjects. Now let us turn briefly to more strategic considerations. The results indicate a high degree of consistency and continuity of behavior from past situations to new situations. Of course, the home and school environments do not really exist in the past for these Ss, for they will

7 Rosen, be returning to these environments upon leaving camp. Yet one important implication of the results is that all interpersonal situations permit some degree of transfer of modes of interpersonal adjustment which have been developed in previous situations. This is consistent with those theories of personality which advocate that each situation and its problems are in part a projection of other situations and their problems. Considerable emphasis has been given i n t h i s paper to the i n fluence of personality variables upon interpersonal events. It would be incorrect, however, to assume that an understanding o f personalitywere all that mattered. Ultimately, in order to achieve a higher level of insight into interpersonal events, we will have to learn to assess and weigh, at any given instance, not merely the contributions of personality variables, but also the relative contributions which situational, group, and cultural variables make to these events.

8 Table 1 Comparative Predictions from Three Categories of Aggression to Criterion Variables Involving Interpersonal Relations in New.Groups (Obtained ranks are shown in parentheses when they differ from predicted ranks) Criterion variables pertaining to new group settings Overaggressive Ss (N «) Predicted and obtained ranks Intermediate Ss (N = h) Overinhibited Ss (N 1) S's relations with his peers 1. S's behavior as actor: a. Contagion initiation "b. Attempted influence c. Directiveness d. Use of or threat of force e. Success f\il influence f. Affectionate behavior. S's behavior in response to peers: g. Compliance h. Contagion pickup. S! s behavior evaluated: (1) 1() i. Impuls iveness j. Attributed power k. Attributed fighting ability 1, Attributed personal likability m. Group confonnism () () 1 S's relations with his adult leader n. Influence attempts from adult o, Directiveness of adult p. Compliance with adult's requests q. Adult-directed behavior r. Perceived own adult independence s. Counselor relatedness as perceived by counselor () ()