The interplay between popularity and aggression in adolescence: Focusing the lens on sense of power and prestige

Abstract

There is accumulating longitudinal evidence that popularity predicts relative increases in adolescents' aggression. Yet, we know very little about the conditions that motivate popular youth to engage in coercive behaviors. In this study, we evaluated whether popular adolescents would show elevated levels of aggression over time when they felt powerless and had low prestige (respect and admiration) among their peers. In addition, we examined whether popular youth would gain a greater sense of power and prestige over time via aggressive means. Participants were 419 fifth (M_agetT1 = 10.91 years, SD = 0.42) and eighth graders (M_agetT1 = 13.95 years, SD = 0.43) who participated twice over a 1-year interval. Popularity was measured at Time 1, while the other central constructs, such as direct forms of aggression, sense of power and prestige, were assessed at Times 1 and 2. Our findings demonstrate that aggression might be a threat-triggered response by popular youth to protect their ego and/or resolve the discrepancy between their position in the hierarchy and what that role should afford them. Moreover, popular youth feel the greatest sense of power over time when they abstain from resorting to aggressive means. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.