THE INFLUENCE OF THE ATTRIBUTION OF INTEN TION ON AGGRESSIVE-BEHAVIORIN PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

The study investigated whether the attribution of an intention, i.e., the belief that a harmful act was committed intentionally or only acci dentally, influences the emitted behavior of children at the age of 5 and 6 years in a possible retaliation situation. An experimental parad igm inducing anger and aggression, and measures of behavioral and subj ective Variables were developed. It was hypothesized that there would be less anger and aggression in response to an unintentional attack th an to an intentional attack. The results demonstrated that the intenti onal provocation as well as the unintentional provocation increased an ger and aggression. This effect was evident in self-report data, in th e judgements of two raters and in behavioral data. In addition, the re sults confirmed the hypothesis that there would be less angry aggressi on in response to an unintentional than to an intentional provocation. The attribution of intention is discussed as an inhibiting or an enha ncing factor of aggressive behavior; respectively.