Abstract
An analogue task of instrumental and hostile aggression during a competitive game was evaluated in a sample of clinically-referred 8-to 12-year-old aggressive boys. Similar to a prior task in a normative sample (Having, Wallace, & La Forme, 1979), both types of aggression increased during provocation as compared to baseline, indicating the success of the provocation manipulation, with moderate correlations between the two aggressive responses. The aggressive group with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the aggressive group without ADHD each had higher rates of instrumental aggression than controls. Only the aggressive/ADHD group had higher rates of hostile aggression than controls. Parent Child Behavior Checklist ratings indicated a modest but significant unique relationship between instrumental aggression and delinquency. The high rate of both types of aggression in the aggressive/ADHD group suggests that comorbid ADHD and aggression may result in qualitative differences in aggressive behavior. The high rate of hostile aggression in the aggressive-ADHD group supports theoretical assumptions regarding the relationship of hostile aggression to poor impulse control.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. S. (1983).Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist. Burlington: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.
Ambrosini, P. J., Metz, C., Prabucki, K., & Lee, J. (1989). Videotape reliability of the third revised edition of the K-SADS.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 28, 723–728.
American Psychiatric Association (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Atkins, M. S., Brown, K., Osborne, M. L., and Milnamow, M. (1992).Children's aggression during competition: Implications for peer social status and aggression subtypes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Sarasota, FL.
Berkowitz, L. (1974). External determinants of impulsive aggression. In J. de Wit & W. Hartup (Eds.),Determinants and origins of aggressive behavior (pp. 147–165). The Hague: Mouton.
Buss, A. H. (1966). Instrumentality of aggression, feedback, and frustration as determinants of physical aggression.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 153–162.
Coie, J. D., Belding, M., & Underwood, M. (1988). Aggression and peer rejection in childhood. In B. Lahey & A. Kazdin (Eds.),Advances in clinical child psychology (Vol. 11, pp. 125–158). New York: Plenum Press.
Coie, J. D., Dodge, K. A., Terry, R., & Wright, V. (1991). The role of aggression in peer relations: An analysis of aggression episodes in boys' play groups.Child Development, 62, 812–826.
Dodge, K. A., & Somberg, D. R. (1987). Hostile attributional biases among aggressive boys are exacerbated under conditions of threats to the self.Child Development, 58, 1, 213–224.
Eron, L. D., Walder, L. O., Huesmann, L. R., & Lefkowtiz, M. M. (1978). The convergence of laboratory and field studies of the development of aggression. In W. Hartup & J. de Wit (Eds.),Origins of aggression (pp. 213–246). The Hague: Mouton.
Fergusson, D. M., & Horwood, L. J. (1987). The trait and method components of ratings of conduct disorder-Part 1. Maternal and teacher evaluations of conduct disorder in young children.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28, 249–260.
Feshbach, S. (1970). Aggression. In P. Mussen (Ed.),Carmichael's manual of child psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 159–259). New York: Wiley.
Halperin, J. M., Matier, K., Bedi, G., Sharma, V., & Newcorn, J. H. (1992). Specificity of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity to the diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 190–196.
Hartup, W. W. (1974). Aggression in childhood: Developmental perspectives.American Psychologist, 29, 336–341.
Hartup, W. W., & de Wit, J. (1974). The development of aggression: Problems and perspectives. In J. de Wit & W. Hartup (Eds.),Determinants and origins of aggressive behavior (pp. 595–620). The Hague: Mouton.
Hinshaw, S. P. (1987). On the distinction between attentional deficits/hyperactivity and conduct problems/aggression in child psychology.Psychological Bulletin, 101, 443–463.
Hoving, K., Wallace, J., & LaForme, G. (1979). Aggression during competition: Effects of age, sex, and amount and type of provocation.Genetic Psychology Monographs, 99, 251–289.
Kazdin, A. E., Rodgers, A., Colbus, D., & Siegel, T. (1987). Children's hostility inventory: Measurement of aggression and hostility in psychiatric inpatient children.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 16, 320–328.
Loeber, R., & Dishion, T. (1983). Early predictors of male delinquency: A review.Psychological Bulletin, 94, 68–99.
Loeber, R., & Schmaling, K. B. (1985). The utility of differentiating between mixed and pure forms of antisocial child behavior.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 315–335.
Loney, J. (1987). Hyperactivity and aggression in the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder. In B. Lahey & A. Kazdin (Eds.),Advances in clinical child psychology, (Vol. 10, pp. 99–135). New York: Plenum Press.
Milich, R., & Dodge, K. A. (1984). Social information processing in child psychiatric populations.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 471–4900.
Moffitt, T. E. (1990). Juvenile delinquency and attention deficit disorder: Boys' developmental trajectories from age 3 to age 15.Child Development, 61, 893–910.
Murphy, D. A., Pelham, W. E., & Lang, A. R. (1992). Aggression in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Methylphenidate effects of naturalistically observed aggression, response to provocation, and social information processing.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 20, 451–466.
Patterson, G. R., DeBaryshe, & Ramsey, E. (1989). A developmental perspective on antisocial behavior.American Psychologist, 44, 329–335.
Pelham, W. E., Milich, R., Cummings, E. M., Murphy, D. A., Schaughency, E. A., & Greiner, A. R. (1991). Effects of background anger, provocation, and methylphenidate on emotional arousal and aggressive responding in attention-deficit hyperactivity disordered boys with and without concurrent aggressiveness.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 19, 407–426.
Rule, B. G. (1974). The hostile and instrumental functions of human aggression. In J. de Wit & W. Hartup (Eds.),Determinants and origins of aggressive behavior (pp. 125–145). The Hague: Mouton.
Rule, B. G., & Duker, P. (1973). Effects of intentions and consequences on children's evaluations of aggression.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 27, 184–189.
Rule, B. G., Nesdale, A. R., & McAra, M. J. (1974). Children's reactions to information about the intentions underlying an aggressive act.Child Development, 45, 794–798.
Schachar, R., Sandberg, S., & Rutter, M. (1986). Agreement between teacher's ratings and observations of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and defiance.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 331–345.
Walker, J. L., Lahey, B. B., Hynd, G. W., & Frame, C. (1987). Comparison of specific patterns of antisocial behavior in children with conduct disorder with or without coexisting hyperactivity.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 910–913.
Willis, L. M., & Foster, S. L. (1990). Differences in children's peer sociometric and attribution ratings due to context and type of aggressive behavior.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18, 199–215.
Zillmann, D. (1979).Hostility and aggression. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Atkins, M.S., Stoff, D.M. Instrumental and hostile aggression in childhood disruptive behavior disorders. J Abnorm Child Psychol 21, 165–178 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00911314
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00911314