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Perceptions and Functions of Play and Real Fighting in Early Adolescence
Author(s) -
Pellegrini Anthony D.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8624.00620
Subject(s) - aggression , dominance (genetics) , psychology , developmental psychology , perception , social psychology , neuroscience , gene , biochemistry , chemistry
The hypothesis is tested that adolescent boys' (mean age of 12.8 years) intrasexual rough‐and‐tumble play (R&T) is used for dominance and intersexual R&T is used to establish heterosexual relationships. In Study 1, boys' observed R&T was related to both dominance and aggression. In the first half of the school year, R&T occurred primarily between males, possibly to establish dominance. In the second half of the year, both boys and girls engaged in R&T, possibly to establish heterosexual relationships. Counter to the hypothesis, observed aggression increased across the year. In Study 2, youngsters viewed taped R&T bouts in which they were participants or nonparticipants. Participant, more than nonparticipant, males saw R&T as related to dominance whereas participant, more than nonparticipant, females saw it as playful.