Brengden et al

• aim

  examining genetic and environmental effects on social and physical aggression
• sample


  234 6 year old same sex twins from canada (quebec) - kindergarden classes - recruited from birth records
• procedure [1]


  6 year olds data collected to assess their social adaptation in kindergarden
• procedure [2]


  obtained written consent from patients before data collected
• procedure [3]


  showed photo of all children and asked to circle 3 kids that fit description of
• procedure [4]

  physical aggression - 'gets into fights' 'hits, bites, kicks' and 'attacks'
• procedure [5]


  social aggression - 'tell others not to play with a child' ' tell mean secrets about others
• procedure [6]


  teachers use preschool social aggression scale to measure social aggression - 'trying to make others dislike a child' 'spread a nasty rumour
• procedure [7]


  physical aggression measured - asked teachers who gets in most fights, hits, bites, kicks others
• results


  physical aggression mainly influenced by genetic factors with shared env factors. non env factors inlfuenced both physical and social aggression. correlations for both type of twins for social and physical aggression similar for peer and teacher ratings.
• retest reliability [s]


  showed photo of children and asked to circle based on fitting description
• generalisability [w]


  6 year old same sex twins
• ethics [s]


  written consent from parents before data collected
• objective reliability [w]


  peer reports - based on own interpretations of person and what phrases mean - subjective
• task validity [s]


  teachers job to usually look at behaviour - day to day task
• What was the aim of the Brengden et al study?

  To study aggression in twins
• In the Brengden et al study, MZ and DZ twins were used as the independent variable
• What were the teacher questionnaires in the Brengden et al study designed to measure?

  Social and physical aggression
• Peer ratings in the Brengden et al study involved classmates identifying children from photographs who fit certain descriptions.
• The teacher ratings in the Brengden et al study produced interval/ratio level data
• How many statements were teachers asked to rate each child on in the Brengden et al study?

  6
• In the peer ratings, classmates were shown photographs of classmates and asked to circle 3 children who best fit the descriptions.
• Give an example of a statement used in the teacher questionnaires to measure social aggression.

  Tries to make others dislike a child
• Give an example of a description used in the peer ratings to measure physical aggression.

  Hits, bites, or kicks others
• Teacher overall scores for each child in the Brengden et al study were frequencies that took the form of nominal level data.

  False
• Who conducted the study on aggression in 6-year-old twins at the University of Montreal?

  Mara Brendgen
• Brendgen's study focuses on the connection between social aggression and physical aggression.
• Previous research on aggression primarily focused on its links to biology and learning.
• Which approach in psychology does Brendgen's study illustrate by using the twin study technique?

  Biological Approach
• Twin studies are used to isolate genetic and situational variables, examining the interplay of nature and nurture.
• Match the type of twin with its genetic similarity:

  Monozygotic (MZ) twins ↔️ 100%

  Dizygotic (DZ) twins ↔️ 50%
• Monozygotic twins always share the same sex.
• What is the term for the similarity in behavior between twins in a twin study?

  Concordance
• If MZ twins share a behavior more than DZ twins, it suggests the behavior has a genetic basis.
• Match the type of social aggression with its description:

  Indirect aggression ↔️ Hidden, such as malicious gossip

  Relational aggression ↔️ Overt but non-physical
• Social aggression is considered to have more survival value than physical aggression.
• What did Gordon Ingram (2014) find regarding social and physical aggression in children as they grow older?

  Social aggression increases
• Young children show more physical aggression because they lack verbal or social skills.
• What is the term for a person's complete genetic makeup?

  Genotype
• A person's phenotype is the combination of their genes and their environment.