Known risk factors for violence predict 12-month-old infants' aggressiveness with peers

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  • Dale Hay
    Cardiff University
  • Lisa Mundy
    University of Melbourne/ Royal Melbourne Hospital
  • Siwan Roberts
  • Raffaella Carta
    Cardiff University
  • Cerith Waters
    Cardiff University
  • Oliver Perra
    Queen's University, Belfast
  • Roland Jones
    Cardiff University
  • Ian Jones
    Cardiff University
  • Ian Goodyer
    University of Cambridge
  • Gordon Harold
    University of Cambridge
  • Anita Thapar
    Cardiff University
  • Stephanie van Goozen
    Cardiff UniversityLeiden University
This study tested the hypothesis that 12-month-old infants' use of force against peers is associated with known risk factors for violence. We conducted a prospective longitudinal study, which included laboratory observations of firstborn British infants (N = 271) during simulated birthday parties. No gender differences in aggressiveness were observed. The infants' observed aggressiveness was significantly correlated with mothers' mood disorder during pregnancy and with mothers' history of conduct problems. Infants' observed aggressiveness was correlated with parents' ratings of infants' anger and aggression, which were also predicted by mothers' mood disorder and history of conduct problems. Our findings indicate that infants at risk for serious aggression can already be identified when the motor ability to use physical force first enters the human repertoire.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1205 - 1211
Number of pages6
JournalPsychological Science
Volume22
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
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