A strategic approach to aggression

Two issues raised by Underwood Galen and Paquette (2001) are discussed in more detail. The distinction between indirect and relational forms of aggression is explored. although they coincide in many current studies, they involve potentially separate dimensions, so that social manipulation may occur face-to-face, and indirect aggression may not involve manipulating others. These forms of aggression are at the margins of the usual definifions of aggression, and may be better viewed as social strategies. The normative view of aggression inherent in the social information processing model is questioned from an evolutionary perspective, and in the light of research on bullying, which indicates that aggressive individuals may be socially skilled. This perspective coincides with the strategic approach arising from consideration of relational aggression.