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Proactive and Reactive Aggressive Behaviors: Dimensionality of Self-Report Scales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2019

Juliane Callegaro Borsa ,
Nelson Hauck-Filho  and
Bruno Figueiredo Damásio
Juliane Callegaro Borsa*
Affiliation:
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Nelson Hauck-Filho
Affiliation:
Universidade São Francisco (Brazil)
Bruno Figueiredo Damásio
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Juliane Callegaro Borsa. Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro. Departamento de Psicologia. Marques de São Vicente, 225, sala 201, Predio Cardeal Leme, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). E-mail: juliborsa@gmail.com
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Abstract

The literature distinguishes aggressive behavior as being either proactive or reactive; however, despite being highly comorbid, they appear to possess unique correlation patterns to external variables. We propose to assess the dimensionality and latent profiles that emerged based on the Peer Aggressive Behavior Scale (PAB-S) and the Peer Aggressive and Reactive Behavior Questionnaire (PARB-Q). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted on two self-report scales in a non-representative Brazilian sample composed by 2,517 students of elementary school (1,275 girls; 50.7%), aged from seven to 16 years. CFA analyses showed inconclusive results regarding the dimensionality of the data. LPA results, for both instruments, indicated the interdependence between proactive and reactive factors. We suggest that dimensionality issues concerning human aggression might depend, at least in part, on the method used to assess the phenomenon.

Keywords

childrenfactor analysislatent profile analysisproactive and reactive aggressionpsychometrics
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 22 , 2019 , E47
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2019 

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Footnotes

How to cite this article:

Borsa, J. C., Hauck-Filho, N., & Damásio, B. F. (2019). Proactive and reactive aggressive behaviors: Dimensionality of self-report scales. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 22. e47. Doi:10.1017/sjp.2019.39

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