RECIPROCITY AND COERCIVE PATTERNS OF PRES CHOOL-CHILDREN

On the basis of behavioral criteria the study conducted a cross-sectio n comparison of coercive patterns by three and four year olds identifi ed as agressive or non agressive. Behavior was recorded in two setting s: classroom and playground. Trained observers used the Behavioral Obs ervation of Social Interaction system achieving reliability superior t o 79%. The Kappa concordance analysis revealed excellent levels on the basis of the criteria proposed by Bakeman & Gottman (1986). In genera l, the behavioral criteria for subject selection allowed for the diffe rential identification of coercive interactive patterns between childr en classified as agressive and those from a comparison group. Younger preschool children showed more coercive behavior than older preschoole rs and those from the comparison group.