HOW DO FRIENDSHIP, INDIRECT, AND DIRECT AGGRESSION RELATE

Most studies that report males as more aggressive than females have ex amined only direct aggression. However, recent research has shown that females may be more indirectly aggressive than males. Lagerspetz et a l. [1988: Aggressive Behavior 14:403-414] have suggested that this gen der difference in indirect aggression may arise because females have m ore dense networks than males, providing them with more opportunities for using indirect aggression. The present study examined the relation ship between network density and aggression by administering self-repo rt measures of each variable to 148 undergraduates. Males with high-de nsity networks reported more indirect than direct aggression, and less direct aggression than males with low-density networks. Use of direct and indirect aggression by females was not related to network density . Explanations consider possible inhibitory and facilitating effects o f network density. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.