Peer Rejection and Antisocial Behavior

            Peer rejection makes distinctive impacts on the societal and emotional development of children.  As a child matures, the impact of their relationship with peers becomes more dominant than the impact of the parental relationship (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  Children rejected by peers in the first grade are more likely to demonstrate antisocial behavior by the fourth grade.  Conversely, children accepted by their peers in their early years will have healthy relationships later in their school years (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  The quality of the child’s relationships with their parents, as well as the quality of the relationship between parents also plays a significant role in predicting a child’s antisocial behavior.  During prekindergarten and kindergarten years, children experiencing negative influences with parents have a higher risk of developing low social skills, behaving aggressively, and experiencing rejection in their elementary school years (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  During the adolescent years, children who exhibit antisocial behaviors frequently associate with other children who exhibit similar behaviors.  This increases the likelihood of juvenile delinquency, substance abuse and other antisocial behaviors (Bartol & Bartol, 2014). 

            Aggressive behavior is a noticeable indicator of children being rejected by their peers.  While this may not be the only predictor of future antisocial behavior, children who are physically and verbally aggressive are more likely to be rejected.  Some children may not be rejected for this type of behavior and many adolescents are liked for being dominant and forceful with others (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  The combined influence of peer rejection and aggression, however, is apparently a predictor of future antisocial behavior.  Boys are more frequently associated with peer rejection.  Aggressive boys are more spontaneous and provoked and will have greater difficulty calming down (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  This leads to a greater likelihood of explosive physical and verbal attacks and results in less social and interpersonal skills for developing a healthy relationship.  Although there is less research available with the influence of peer rejection and antisocial behavior with girls, the results of limited studies are similar to that of boys (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  The three major perspectives of the influence of gangs on antisocial behaviors suggest that children either join gangs as a result of associating with gang members, they seek out this behavior among peers, or children who are already antisocial have this behavior strengthened as a result.  The latter is the dominant theory (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).

            Humans are created in the image of God and Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (New American Standard Bible).  Parents must understand, however, children are given the same gift of free will that we have as parents.  Just as Adam and Eve exercised the gift of free will in the Garden of Eden, children will also exercise this gift.  Parents exercising their proper role, whether it be the father or mother, will help to avoid the pitfalls of over stepping the balance between control and influence.  Learning what our children need the most from us will help us to understand our roles the best.

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Reference

Bartol, C.R. & Bartol, A.M., Criminal behavior: A psychological approach (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.