In order to facilitate the comprehension of social structure in preschool children,
our research has two foci: first, to define controlling behaviours (nonaggressive
group organisation) and to determine their organisational principles, and second, to
analyse the relation of the controlling behaviours with aggressive behaviours.
Through direct observation, the behaviour of 90 preschoolers aged 4–5
years old during free playtime was registered. A correspondence analysis revealed
that two organisational principles structure controlling relationships, one related
to authority and another to acquiescence. The independence of these two dimensions
suggests the existence of a social hierarchy in preschoolers’ playgroups
based on controlling behaviour. No significant relation between authoritative and
aggressive behaviours in 4-year-old children was detected, while 5-year-old children
with high levels of authoritative behaviour were less aggressive than individuals
with low levels. Our results point out that controlling activity is relevant in the
organisation of preschool children’s social groups. Children’s
goal development probably determines the change of the behavioural strategies that
facilitate the evolution of social structure from aggressive to controlling
hierarchies. We judge it necessary for research to focus on controlling interactions.
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