Accuracy in Judgments of Aggressiveness
David A. Kenny1*,
Tessa V. West1,
Antonius H. N. Cillessen1,
John D. Coie2,
Kenneth A. Dodge2,
Julie A. Hubbard3,
David Schwartz4
1 University of Connecticut
2 Duke University
3 University of Delaware
4 University of Southern California
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: david.kenny{at}uconn.edu.
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Abstract |
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Perceivers are both accurate and biased in their understanding of others. Past research has distinguished between three types of accuracy: generalized accuracy, a perceiver’s accuracy about how a target interacts with others in general; perceiver accuracy, a perceiver’s view of others corresponding with how the perceiver is treated by others in general; and dyadic accuracy, a perceiver’s accuracy about a target when interacting with that target. Researchers have proposed that there should be more dyadic than other forms of accuracy among well-acquainted individuals because of the pragmatic utility of forecasting the behavior of interaction partners. We examined behavioral aggression among well-acquainted peers. A total of 116 9-year-old boys rated how aggressive their classmates were toward other classmates. Subsequently, 11 groups of 6 boys each interacted in play groups, during which observations of aggression were made. Analyses indicated strong generalized accuracy yet little dyadic and perceiver accuracy.
