RESEARCH_FILE
Jamie M. Ostrov
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Known for:Developmental research on the forms and functions of relational aggression, from early childhood measures to adult self-reports
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“They hung out without me — I'm being pushed out”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“Two friends having coffee is two friends having coffee. Not a verdict on me.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Open your recent photos or stories for two minutes and write down only the facts you can verify: who was there, what place it was, and whether you actually know why you weren’t there. Stop after three lines.
Key findings
- 2010
In 1,387 adults, a validated self-report distinguished proactive, reactive and romantic relational aggression — with reactive relational aggression uniquely tied to a history of abuse, hostile attribution biases, and distress over ambiguous relational provocations, and elevated in adults with Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Proactive, reactive, and romantic relational aggression in adulthood: Measurement, predictive validity, gender differences, and association with Intermittent Explosive Disorder ↗
- 2010
An integrated gender-linked model of aggression proposes that gender identity and gender schemas shape which form of aggression children adopt — they tend to prefer gender-consistent aggressive behavior — expanding social information-processing theory rather than treating relational aggression as exclusive to one gender. Toward an integrated gender-linked model of aggression subtypes in early and middle childhood ↗