REACTIVE AND PROACTIVE AGGRESSION DIFFERENTIALLY PREDICT LATER CONDUCT PROBLEMS

This study tested whether proactive and reactive aggression were diffe rently predictive of later externalizing problems such as delinquency and DSM-related disruptive behaviors (i.e. oppositional defiant and co nduct disorders). It also tested whether these two subtypes of aggress ive behaviors interacted in predicting externalizing problems. A commu nity sample of low SES boys participated in the study. Proactive and r eactive aggression were rated by teachers when boys were 12 years old. Delinquency, oppositional disorders, and conduct disorders were asses sed during mid-adolescence. Proactive but not reactive aggression pred icted delinquency and disruptive behaviors. Moreover, high levels of r eactive aggression weakened the link between proactive aggression and delinquency. Reactive aggression, however, did not moderate the link b etween proactive aggression and disruptive behaviors. We conclude that reactive and proactive aggression are two distinct types of aggressiv e behaviors with different predictive abilities. We also offer tentati ve explanations to account for the present findings.