Mk. Underwood et al., An experimental, observational investigation of children's responses to peer provocation: Developmental and gender differences in middle childhood, CHILD DEV, 70(6), 1999, pp. 1428-1446
The primary goal of this research was to use an experimental, observational
method to study the development of anger expression during middle childhoo
d. Eight-, 10-, and 12-year-old girls and boys (N = 382) were observed duri
ng a laboratory play session that was provoking in two ways: Participants l
ost a computer game they were playing for a desirable prize, and their play
partner was a same-age, same-gender confederate actor who taunted them. Ch
ildren's responses to the provoking play sessions-facial expressions, verba
lizations, and gestures-were reliably coded. Overall, children in these age
groups maintained a remarkable degree of composure. Girls made fewer negat
ive comments than boys did, and fewer negative gestures. Older children mai
ntained more neutral facial expressions, made fewer gestures and were more
likely to remain silent when provoked. When they spoke, older children made
fewer negative comments, fewer remarks about the game, and fewer positive
comments about themselves or the actor.