Aggressive behavior of preschool children in selected progressive preschools in Quezon City: A developmental perspective

Many studies have been done on the aggressive behavior of young children, yet, only a number focus on the developmental aggression. This study aimed to know more about the development perspectives of aggression. Specifically, it hoped to gain information on the aggressive acts manifested by children at ages three and five, as well as, the events that instigate these behaviors. It also intended to know the differences in these variables between gender. Sixty children randomly chosen from three progressive preschools in Quezon City were the subjects. They were observed during their freeplay and outdoor periods for 15 minutes each for five days. Results from the two way analysis of variance done on the study showed that three years olds, rather than fives, were more physically aggressive while five years old were more verbally aggressive. It further showed that males were significantly more physically aggressive than the females. No significant difference was seen in verbal aggression in terms of gender. Events that trigger aggressive behavior vary as age increases only on verbal derogation, where five year olds were more prone to, and not on the classifications. The instigating events vary significantly between gender on bodily contact, as well as, by those that were triggered by unobservable events. Males manifested aggressive acts triggered by these events more frequently than the females