Abstract
M.A. (Psychology)
This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether
children defined as predominating on traits of aggressiveness,
assertiveness and submissiveness would model aggressive
behaviour elicited by an aggressive teacher within a classroom
situation. The experimental hypotheses were:
1. Aggressive children will become more aggressive with an
aggressive teacher.
2. Assertive children will become neither more aggressive
nor more compliant with an aggressive teacher.
3. Submissive children will become more submissive with an
aggressive teacher.
One hundred and ninety six primary school pupils in standard
two and three were assessed for aggressiveness, assertiveness
and submissiveness within their specific classrooms by means
of a self - report inventory. The teachers of the classes were
tested and assigned to either an experimental aggressive group
or a nonaggressive control group. Each class then underwent
observation in order to determine whether aggressive teachers
had any effects on the aggressive behaviour of aggressive, assertive and submissive children in the normal classroom
situation.
The results of the study did not substantiate the hypotheses.
It was found that aggressive teachers did not necessarily
elicit aggressive responses from the children. These findings
suggested that situational constraints inhibited aggressive
behaviour.