CHILDRENS FRIENDS AND BEHAVIORAL SIMILARITY IN 2 SOCIAL CONTEXTS

The general purpose of this study was to examine similarity between fr iends with respect to behavior. The specific goals were to consider; 1 ) different sources of evaluation (peer ratings and direct observation s); 2) different social contexts (classroom and play group); and 3) di fferent subtypes of aggressive behavior (proactive and reactive aggres sion). In the first phase of the study, sociometric assessments and pe er evaluations of behavior were conducted in the school setting with t hird-grade boys and girls (n = 268). In the second phase, a subsample of boys participated in a series of play group sessions (n = 66). Dire ct observations and peer ratings of children's behavior were conducted in those sessions. Results showed in both social contexts a tendency towards similarity among friends, especially with respect to aggressiv e behavior Separate analyses for subtypes of aggressive behavior revea led that the similarity hypothesis applied for proactive aggression bu t not for reactive aggression.