OUTCOME EXPECTANCIES AND OUTCOME VALUES AS PREDICTORS OF CHILDRENS AGGRESSION

Social learning theory predicts that outcome expectancies and values s hould independently predict behavior, but past studies of aggression h ave failed to test this hypothesis specifically. We asked low-socioeco nomic status children to imagine themselves engaging in aggressive beh aviors and to rate the likelihood of each of a number of outcomes (out come expectancies) and to rate how much they cared about those outcome s (outcome values). The relationship between self-reported aggression and outcome expectancies, values, and expectancy by value interactions was assessed. Expectancies, values, and their interactions were diffe rentially related to aggression depending on the specific outcome inve stigated (e.g,, punishment, bad feelings in self or other, prevention of future aggression, and peer respect), Results are discussed in term s of implications for theory and for future research. (C) 1998 Wiley-L iss, Inc.