Abstract
Studies of maladaptive behavior in women have traditionally focused on difficulties that are self-destructive in nature, such as suicidal behavior, eating disorders, and self-mutilation (e.g., Canetto & Lester, 1995; Cross, 1993; Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987). However, in the last several years, there has been a shift toward seeking to understand women’s maladjustment in its aggressive and socially harmful forms (Ayduk, Downey, Testa, Ying Yen, & Shoda, 1999). This shift has, in part, been the result of a greater awareness of the existence and prevalence of women’s harmful acts. For example, between 1988 and 1997, the rate of criminal activity rose more dramatically for female (69%) than for male (26%) adolescents, as msured by court referrals (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1999). Finally, interest in female aggressive behavior has also been encouraged by studies on close relationships that find women use strategies such as direct physical aggression (e.g., Archer & Ray, 1989; Arias, Samios, & O’Leary, 1987; Ben-David, 1993; Deal & Wampler, 1986; Plass & Gessner, 1983), verbal aggression (e.g., Billingham & Sack, 1987; deWeerth & Kalma, 1992), and the undermining of others’ social relationships (e.g., Bjorkqvist, Osterman, & Lagerspetz, 1992; Cairns & Cairns, 1994; Crick & Grotpeter, 1995) to inflict intentional harm (Ayduk et al., 1999).
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Downey, G., Irwin, L., Ramsay, M., Ayduk, O. (2004). Rejection Sensitivity and Girls’ Aggression. In: Moretti, M.M., Odgers, C.L., Jackson, M.A. (eds) Girls and Aggression. Perspectives in Law & Psychology, vol 19. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8985-7_2
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