ABSTRACT
Why worry about aggressive girls? Until recently researchers have largely focused their studies of aggression on the risks and developmental trajectories for aggressive boys. Generally, girls’ aggressive behavior problems are thought to be less prevalent and serious than those of boys (Offord, Boyle, & Racine, 1991; Statistics Canada, 1998). Therefore, it is not surprising that the theoretical models and empirical foundation for understanding the development of aggression have been based on research on aggressive boys. The purpose of the present chapter is neither to debate gender differences in aggression nor deflect concerns for male aggression, but to highlight the developmental risks, processes, and outcomes in the development of girls’ aggression. Accordingly, we have focused on the interactions of aggressive girls within their primary social environments to begin to understand the development of their problem behaviors.
