Show I Competitive Games Lead To Aggression Participation in competitive games can lead to aggressive violent behavior in children a group of clinical psychologists from the University of Utah reported reported reported re re- re- re ported here Thursday at the bi-annual bi meeting of the Society Society So So- for Research and Child Development IN A SERIES of experiments experiments experiments ments conducted with 96 elementary elementary elementary ele ele- school students in Salt Lake City the psychologists psychologists psychologists observed a marked increase increase increase in in- crease in aggression among children who were frustrated after losing in competitive games Dr Donna M. M Gelfand associate associate as as- professor of psychology ogy who presented the paper for the Utah team said the research was conducted in a trailer equipped with rooms divided divided di di- vided by way one-way mirrors aged PAIRS OF children five ive and six watched a college college col- col four lege ege student aggress a and one-half one foot inflated plastic plastic plastic plas plas- tic clown with a club After three minutes the model left the room and the children p participated participated par par- r- r with the ps psychologist in miniature bowling and strength meter games in which the winners and losers had been predetermined One child for example was was allowed allowed allow allow- ed to win five of the six contests contests contests con con- with tests and was rewarded candy and praise Following the controlled observed ob ob- games the children were session session session ses ses- served in a play free free play sion in a room containing the clown and numerous other aggressive aggressive ag ag- g and non aggressive toys THOSE who failed at the controlled games imitated with vigor the older students student s aggression of the clown Dr Gelfand said And even the success subjects' subjects aggressed during the play free-play session although to a lesser extent The findings of the study provide evidence that compe compe- induced frustration increases increases in in- i I creases aggression in children especially boys she said THE DEMONSTRATED ag- ag eliciting effect of competition competition competition com com- petition is contrary to the predictions predictions pre pre- dictions of many theorists who advocate participation in sports and other competition as a means of reducing aggressive aggressive aggressive ag ag drive according to Dr Gelfand The present presen study and other experimental evidence challenge the hypothesis esis that the expression or witnessing witnessing witnessing wit wit- of aggression reduces the tendency to further sion She added that modeled aggressive aggressive aggressive ag ag- ag- ag behavior doing what adults are observed doing or orthe orthe orthe the presence of aggressive stimulation stimulation stimulation in competitive games increases violent activity in children I I DONT DON'T know how far the analogy can be carried to little league eague baseball competition In in the classroom and other activities activities activities ac ac- ac- ac outside Dr Gelfand said But we certainly have some hints about the effects of competition in real life situ Authors of the paper in addition addition addition ad ad- to Dr Gelfand were Mrs Janice D. D Nelson a graduate student and Dr Donald P. P Hartman assistant professor of psychology 0 w Wal Wai bragged the pati patient nt Ill be 80 my my- next birthday and I haven't an enea enemy I in the world G Gee e that's re remarkable ble said the young one Yep went on the old OK Ive outlived every o of e em M |