Aggressive behaviors in children and adolescents have undergone important conceptual
and definitional modifications in the past two decades. In particular, subtypes of
aggression have been proposed that separate the form and the function of the
aggressive behaviors (i.e., social vs. physical aggression; reactive vs. proactive
aggression). Moreover, new methodological tools have been developed to examine the
developmental course of these subtypes, as well as their correlates. These
conceptual and methodological innovations, in turn, have introduced new views of the
development of aggressive behaviors. These “new views” contrast
with more traditional perspectives about the evolution of aggressive behaviors from
infancy to young adulthood, particularly with respect to the existence of
individuals who begin to become aggressive by adolescence only. This article gives
an overview of these definitional, conceptual, and methodological innovations. It
also tries to reconcile different views about the development of aggressive
behaviors from infancy through early adulthood. Theoretical and practical/clinical
implications are also reviewed. The conclusion describes an integrative framework
and identifies possible areas of research for the future.
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