The Impact of Subgroup Norms on the Relationship between Social Goals and Aggression in Korea

• In Event: 2-070 - Considering the Impact of Social Context and Group Norms Across Cultures

Integrative Statement

Introduction: In early adolescence, youth have the social goal to gain dominance within the peer group. This goal for social power—agentic goal—is closely associated with aggressive behavior in youth. Studies on peer group influence have constantly emphasized the role of the subgroup (i.e. clique) as the proximal context of peer socialization. Considering peer interaction in the subgroup is strong and extensive in its frequency and magnitude, social goal orientation of subgroup would have the strong influence over youth’s social goals and aggressive behavior.

Goal: Previous studies on agentic goal and aggression focused on individual correlates and did not examine the contextual effect of the subgroup norm. Whether subgroups share a culture of motivation to be socially visible (social demonstration goal) or build the intimate relationship (social competence goal) would have the impact on aggressive behavior and its relationship with the agentic goal. Thus, we consider how subgroup norms within Korea can create a type of peer culture, or context, that will, in turn impact outcomes.

Analyses: The sample consisted of 1,148 students from 40 classes in Korean elementary schools (4-6th grade). The current study examined the direct effect subgroup norms on the aggressive behavior of Korean youth as well as the moderating effect of agentic goal and aggressive behavior using three-level multilevel analysis using Mplus 7.2. For conceptualizing subgroup norm, this study adopted social network approach to identify cohesive subgroups. Cohesive subgroups were identified from peer networks of each classroom and, the average score of social goal orientation (social demonstration and competence goal) in each subgroup was computed as subgroup norm. The range of subgroup in each classroom was three to six and there were 117 subgroups in this study.

Results: There was higher level of variation in aggressive behavior at the subgroup level (ICC: 15.9%) compared to class level (ICC: 2.3%). The result indicated that agentic goals of youth were associated with higher levels of aggression. Social goal orientation of subgroup had influence over aggressive behavior and the agentic goal – aggression link. In subgroups with high social demonstration goals, youth tended to exhibit higher level of aggressive behavior. Social demonstration and competence subgroup norm moderated the extent to which agentic goal and aggression was associated. Children in high social demonstration goal subgroups, increased aggression more rapidly as the agentic goal was gained (Figure 1). Children in high social competence subgroups showed relatively low increases in aggression (Figure 2).

Conclusion: In sum, social goal orientation of subgroup creates an influential peer culture over aggressive behavior, and the association between agentic goals and aggression. The result of this study indicates the importance of the cohesive subgroup as units of conceptualizing the social norm of the peer group. Shared social goal orientation within subgroup had strong influence over social goal and behavior. It seems subgroup norms create an important and influential peer culture on the social motivation and behavior of youth.

Author

• Jingu Kim, Konkuk University
  Presenting Author