Aggressive behaviour of children as a function of classroom environment

M.A. (Psychology)This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether children defined as predominating on traits of aggressiveness, assertiveness and submissiveness would model aggressive behaviour elicited by an aggressive teacher within a classroom situation. The experimental hypotheses were: 1. Aggressive children will become more aggressive with an aggressive teacher. 2. Assertive children will become neither more aggressive nor more compliant with an aggressive teacher. 3. Submissive children will become more submissive with an aggressive teacher. One hundred and ninety six primary school pupils in standard two and three were assessed for aggressiveness, assertiveness and submissiveness within their specific classrooms by means of a self - report inventory. The teachers of the classes were tested and assigned to either an experimental aggressive group or a nonaggressive control group. Each class then underwent observation in order to determine whether aggressive teachers had any effects on the aggressive behaviour of aggressive, assertive and submissive children in the normal classroom situation. The results of the study did not substantiate the hypotheses. It was found that aggressive teachers did not necessarily elicit aggressive responses from the children. These findings suggested that situational constraints inhibited aggressive behaviour