8th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Justin Anderson
Title: Displays of Various Levels of Aggression: Adolescents Versus Adults
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Katherine Van Allen , Psychology

Differences in levels of aggression were witnessed at a shopping mall to determine if there was a significant difference between adolescents and adults over the age of 40 in how often aggression was displayed. Instances where an instigator—one who happened to be in the way of the subjects—was present were utilized to determine these shows of aggression. Levels of aggression assessed were classified as overt aggression, passive aggression, or no aggression. Adolescents displayed higher levels of both overt and passive aggression, while older adults showed more instances of no aggression. These findings indicated that adolescents are more likely to display signs of aggression than older adults.