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No sex differences in the origins of covariation between social and physical aggression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2018

Brooke L. Slawinski Open the ORCID record for Brooke L. Slawinski [Opens in a new window] ,
Kelly L. Klump Open the ORCID record for Kelly L. Klump [Opens in a new window]  and
S. Alexandra Burt Open the ORCID record for S. Alexandra Burt [Opens in a new window]
Brooke L. Slawinski
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 316 Physics Road, Room 37A, Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
Kelly L. Klump
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 316 Physics Road, Room 37A, Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
S. Alexandra Burt*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 316 Physics Road, Room 37A, Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
*
Author for correspondence: S. Alexandra Burt, E-mail: burts@msu.edu
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Abstract

Background

Prior work has indicated both theoretical and empirical overlap between social and physical aggression. The extent to which their covariance can be explained by the same underlying genetic or environmental factors, however, remains unclear. It is also uncertain whether or how the origins of their covariance might vary across sex. The current study sought to fill these gaps in the literature.

Methods

We examined maternal and teacher reports of youth physical and social aggression in over 1000 6–10 years old (mean age = 8.02 years) twin pairs from the Michigan State University Twin Registry. We made use of the bivariate correlated factors model to clarify the origins of their association. We further tested both sex difference and no-sex difference versions of that model to determine whether there are sex differences in the association between social and physical aggression, as often assumed.

Results

The covariation between social and physical aggression was due to overlapping genetic factors and common environmental conditions. Specifically, 50–57% of the genetic factors, 74–100% of the shared environmental factors, and 28–40% of the unique environmental factors influencing physical aggression also influenced social aggression according to both mother and teacher reports. These shared etiological factors did not differ across sex.

Conclusions

These findings argue against the common assumption that social aggression is the ‘female version’ of male physical aggression, and instead suggest that social aggression may be best conceptualized as a form of antisocial behavior that shares developmental pathways with other manifestations of externalizing pathology.

Keywords

Etiologyphysical aggressionrelational aggressionsex differencessocial aggressiontwins
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 49 , Issue 15 , November 2019 , pp. 2515 - 2523
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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