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Heterogeneity among Peer‐Rejected Boys: Subtypes and Stabilities
Author(s) -
Cillessen Antonius H. N.,
IJzendoorn Hendrik W.,
Lieshout Cornelis F. M.,
Hartup Willard W.
Publication year - 1992
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/j.1467-8624.1992.tb01669.x
Subject(s) - psychology , aggression , sociometric status , developmental psychology , sociometry , social rejection , peer acceptance , peer group , interval (graph theory) , social psychology , social relation , mathematics , combinatorics
Cluster analysis was used to identify subtypes among 98 peer‐rejected 5–7‐year‐old boys. Repeated sociometric nominations obtained over a 1‐year interval permitted examination of the relation between rejection subtype and sociometric stability. Results revealed that 48% of these rejected boys were aggressive, impulsive, disruptive, and noncooperative as well as not involved in mutual liking. A smaller number (13%) were socially shy, perceived themselves to be negatively regarded by their peers, and were uninvolved in mutual liking. Two other subtypes, accounting for 39% of these boys, did not seem especially deviant. These behavioral characteristics generally typified the four rejection subtypes 1 year later. 66% of the nonaggressive subtypes changed sociometric classification (i.e., became average or popular) after a year, whereas only 42% of the aggressive‐rejected children did so, suggesting that peer rejection that involves aggression is more stable than rejection that does not.