Poster #220 - Effects of Clique Stratification on Clique Socialization of Relational Aggression

• In Event: 3-206 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Section - Social Relationships

Integrative Statement

Past research points to peer cliques as one of the major contributors to the development of aggression in children and adolescents (Ellis & Zarbatany, 2007). However, clique influence varies based on individual and clique characteristics (Shi & Xie, 2012, 2014). In the present study, we examine the effects of clique stratification, or variation in members’ status, and individual status on clique socialization of relational aggression (RA) over 6 months. Based on social learning, self categorization and optimal distinctiveness theories, we expected that (a) clique socialization of relational aggression would increase with increasing clique stratification because high-status members of stratified cliques provide clear examples and expectations for participation in relational aggression; and (b) low-status members would account for the clique stratification effect because they must adhere to clique behavioral norms to secure clique membership.
Participants were 1,033 (444 boys, 589 girls) in 52 Grade 4-8 classes (M_age=11.59 years, range 9 – 14) at 8 primary schools. Cliques (n = 162) were identified using the Social Cognitive Map (SCM; Cairns et al., 1988), a peer nomination procedure that identifies groups, and central (most prominent), secondary, and peripheral group members, based on frequency of nomination by grade-mates of “kids who hang out together frequently.” The clique stratification score was indexed by the standard deviation (SD) of individual centrality scores within cliques. Standardized peer nominations on two items provided scores for relational aggression in the fall and six months later during the same academic year (α = .78-.82).
Data were analysed using multilevel modeling (MLM). Our analysis showed that individual RA and clique RA at Time 1 both predicted individual RA at Time 2 (Table 1). Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between clique RA and clique stratification. Clique RA was a stronger predictor of Time 2 RA in more highly stratified cliques (Figure 1). The proposed three-way interaction between individual centrality, clique norms and clique stratification was not significant.
These findings affirm the importance of peer cliques for the socialization of relational aggression, but also reveal nuances in clique influence related to clique structural features. Stratification magnified clique influence on relational aggression, suggesting that individuals feel greater pressure to conform to the clique relational aggression standard in stratified cliques. Stratification may signal well-defined power structures with dominant members directing behavior from the top and governing subservient members below. Membership in these groups may require adherence to group norms to avoid exclusion, an outcome to be avoided if these groups control important social resources. Low status members were not more affected than other clique members, perhaps because relational aggression requires widespread participation to succeed. To test this hypothesis, parallel analyses on overt aggression are forthcoming.

Authors

• Chris Sciberas, Western University
  Presenting Author

• Lynne Zarbatany, University of Western Ontario
  Non-Presenting Author

• Wendy Ellis, King's University College
  Non-Presenting Author

• Paul Tremblay, Western University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Xinyin Chen, University of Pennsylvania
  Non-Presenting Author