The self-concept and aggressive behavior among elementary school children from two socioeconomic areas and two grade levels

An investigation was conducted to examine the relationship between a child's self-concept and the tendency to behave aggressively. Boys and girls (N=229) in eight classrooms (two third grades and two sixth grades from two different socioeconomic areas within the Provo, Utah, School District) were administered the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale and the Children's Action Tendency Scale. Correlation coefficients were computed, and analysis of variance tests were used to determine the nature of variable relationships. No overall correlational pattern was found among self-concept and aggression scores. The analysis of variance results revealed a significantly larger mean aggressiveness score among children with low self-concepts when compared to children with medium and high self-concepts. Girls, while less aggressive than boys, became more aggressive with age, while boys' aggressiveness scores declined. Implications of the results were discussed in terms of methods of behavior change utilized by school personnel.     

Sensation Seeking and Narrative Transportation: High Sensation Seeking Children's Interest in Reading Outside of School

High sensation seekers (HSS) prefer messages that allow them to maintain an optimal level of arousal (i.e., highly arousing messages). Transportation theory suggests that narrative immersion in a story may moderate reader arousal, and thus HSS message selection. To test this idea, a survey was administered to 120 fourth and fifth graders. In addition to measuring sensation seeking and transportation, the survey assessed interest in reading outside of school (i.e., leisure reading). HSS were found to be less likely to engage in leisure reading. Consistent with the activation model of information exposure, a moderated mediation analysis revealed that whether HSS engaged in leisure reading hinged on their level of narrative transportation (moderator) and subsequent reader boredom (mediator). HSS who successfully transported while reading were no different than their low sensation seeking peers. From a genre standpoint, high sensation seeking children with high narrative transportation scores were found to be especially interested in science fiction/fantasy books. Strategies for increasing leisure reading as well as constructing narratives that are engaging to high sensation seeking children are discussed.