The Relationship Between Self and Aggression and the Role of Social Ecology During Adolescence

Abstract

In the complex tapestry of human behavior, the intricate interplay between self-concept and aggression emerges as a compelling study area. The self-concept is a constellation of several characteristics rather than a single, cohesive construct. Most studies have accentuated the relationship between self-esteem and aggression. Presenting a combination of three elements of self-concept- self-image, self-esteem, and self-efficacy, the paper also discusses how factors like peer evaluation and social support play a role in determining aggression. While self-image posits a negative correlation, self-esteem has a contentious relation and self-efficacy upholds a negative correlation. Variations across cultures, norms, gender, and personality pave the way for differences across aggressive tendencies. Results on aggression in social setup reveal that both social status and social support help in framing positive self-image, self-esteem, and self-efficacy beliefs in an individual. Gender differences in aggression are mostly related to differential socialization. Thus, domain-specific self-concept, social support, and social status significantly influence aggression among adolescents, highlighting the importance of understanding these factors for intervention and positive development.