Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Peer group similarities in adolescent hostile attribution tendencies

Halligan, S. L. and Philips, K. J. (2010) Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Peer group similarities in adolescent hostile attribution tendencies. Developmental Psychology, 46 (5). pp. 1385-1388. ISSN 0012-1649 doi: 10.1037/a0020383

Abstract/Summary

A bias towards attributing hostile intent to others has been linked to aggression. In an adolescent sample, we investigated whether peer group homophily exists in the tendency towards attributing hostile intent. We assessed hostile attribution tendencies and self-reported aggressive behaviours in a normative sample of 910 adolescents, and computed average peer group scores based on nominated friend scores. Results indicated that adolescents showed significant correlations between their own level of hostile attributions and that of their peer group. Further analyses indicated that this effect occurred specifically in reciprocal friendships, and was retained even once own and peer group level of aggression were controlled.