Aggression and Antisocial Behavior in Girls

Until the 1990s, childhood aggression was generally thought to be the province of males. Theories and research developed either based mostly on male samples or without regard to gender. Since 1990, however, researchers have focussed considerably more interest on antisocial behavior in girls. Some have questioned whether definitions of aggression shouldbe constrained to examinations of harm to people and property, or should be expanded to include intentional harm to relationships (e.g., Bjorkqvist, 1994; Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). Others have recognized that even if girls generally display lower rates of physical aggression and delinquency than boys, substantial numbers of girls show antisocial behavior at some point in their lives. For whatever the reason, research on aggression that focuses specifically on girls has begun to emerge.