Abstract
Unjustified aggression among pre-schoolers. The article examines the nature of unjustified aggression in a sample of pre-school children in Seville. Children nominated themselves and their peers for taking four roles in aggression; aggressor, victim, defender, assistant to the aggressor and outsider. Children were also asked about the sociometric status of their classmates. Teachers were given a questionnaire to investigate their perceptions of these roles and the social development and physical strength of the children involved. The results show that pre-schoolars trend to be aggressive using direct behaviour (face-to-face), rather than indirect strategies (e.g. rumour spreading). Aggressive children were not perceived as being physically stronger than others, but tended to be socially rejected. Defenders were often the most popular. Victims were not socially rejected or physically weak, findings which are in contrast with studies of older Victims. It is suggested that this apparent difference relates to the unstable and developing nature of aggression/victimisation during the pre-school years.
