Types of Aggression

Peer Aggression
Includes physical, verbal and relational aggression. All of these types of aggression affect both boys and girls. (Crick et al., 1999)

Physical Aggression
Harm through damage or threat of damage to another’s physical well-being (Crick and Grotpeter, 1995)

Verbal Aggression
Obvious and/or hidden verbal acts of aggression toward another person, such as threats, put-downs and name calling

Relational Aggression
Behavior that is intended to harm someone by damaging or manipulating his or her relationships with others (Crick and Grotpeter, 1995). Relationally aggressive behaviors include exclusion, malicious gossip and rumor spreading, teasing and name calling, alliance building, covert physical aggression and cyberbullying.

Overt Aggression
Obvious, blatant acts of aggression

Covert Aggression
Hidden acts of aggression (e.g. body language, exclusion)

Reactive Relational Aggression
Defensive response to provocation with intent to retaliate.

Example: A child is being teased repeatedly in school and then becomes a teaser himself for protection.

Proactive Relational Aggression
Proactive behaviors are a means for achieving a goal (e.g. may need to exclude someone to maintain your own social status).

Example: A girl is mad at another girl for being “more popular” so she spreads a sexual rumor about her to ruin her reputation.