EvoS Journal: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium
Volume 7, Special Issue 2, 2015
Title
College Aggression and Prosociality as Social Strategies
Author(s)
Glass, D. J., & Fireman, G. D.
Abstract
While peer aggression and victimization research has traditionally focused on children and adolescents, less research has examined this phenomenon in college students. The current study examines aggression, victimization, and prosociality in a college sample from the perspective of peer aggression as a possible adaptation to form and maintain social dominance hierarchies. A sample of college freshman was surveyed in their first and second semesters of college to determine whether peer aggression and victimization decreased over time, as would be expected if it functioned to organize social hierarchies. Contrary to hypothesis, levels of aggression and victimization were stable over time. However, overt and relational aggression and victimization were not necessarily linked to negative psychosocial outcomes, consistent with the hypothesis that they may be a normal feature of social organization in moderate amounts. Prosociality and aggression were found to be uncorrelated, suggesting that they may be two complementary social strategies that can be selectively used by individuals.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59077/UBLG6019
How to cite this article:
Glass, D. J., & Fireman, G. D. (2016). College aggression and prosociality as social strategies. The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium, 7, Sp. Iss. (2), 51-72.
