Can Outcome Expectancies Help Explain Sex Differences in Direct and Indirect Aggression?

Title
Can Outcome Expectancies Help Explain Sex Differences in Direct and Indirect Aggression?
Publication Date
2012
Author(s)
Marks, Anthony
Hine, Donald W
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3905-7026
Email: dhine@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dhine
Manton, Gary C
Thorsteinsson, Einar B
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2065-1989
Email: ethorste@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:ethorste
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00876.x
UNE publication id
une:10379
Abstract
This study examined the role of outcome expectancies in explaining sex differences in adolescents' inclination to engage in acts of aggression. Using a sample of Australian adolescents, 2 scales were developed to measure outcome expectancies of direct and indirect aggression. The data were used in subsequent mediation analyses. Sex differences in direct aggression were partially mediated by 2 types of aggression expectancies. Relative to females, males anticipated more overall benefits associated with acting aggressively and less fear of reprisals from authority figures. This pattern of expectancy beliefs predicted higher levels of self-reported direct aggression. Sex differences in indirect aggression were fully mediated by anticipation of personal benefits, with males expecting greater personal benefits for engaging in this type of aggression.
Link
Citation
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42(1), p. 151-169
ISSN
1559-1816
0021-9029
Start page
151
End page
169

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