Aggressive interactions in a kindergarten group

The aims of our research are both practical and theoretical. Theoretically, we attempted an advanced understanding of the functional Systems producing agonistic behavior by a gradual development of abstract system-theoretical modeis. Practically, current theories of behavior pathology were investigated. These theories often predict "enhanced aggressiveness" or "repressed aggressiveness" of children in connection with Symptoms like enuresis or psychogenic asthma. We question whether this relationship holds. If there are observable diffcrences, can we relate different aggressive behaviors to nonasthmaiic children? As a research method, wc chose intensive observation of relatively few children rather than extensive screening of many children, the more typical method. We hoped that this classical ethological approach, combined with a formulaüon of ihe results in abstract functional terms, was more appropriate to the problem of children's "aggressive behavior" than largely statistical methods based on correlaiion evaluation.