Relational aggression Totally Explained

Everything about Relational Aggression totally explained

Relational aggression is psychological (social/emotional) aggression between people in relationships. Relational aggression is a form of aggression where the group is used as a weapon to assault others and others' relationships. It uses lies, secrets, betrayals and other dishonest tactics to destroy or damage the relationships and social standing of others in the group. Also known as covert bullying, social aggression , "female bullying", family bullying or serial bullying, it's a covert form of aggression, used by both men and women in relationships. It is less well-known than physical forms of aggression and therefore much more difficult to detect. Often, the victim may not know the abuser is lying or gossiping about the victim, and the abuser may even pretend to befriend the victim.
Although modern understanding of relational aggression arose from the study of cliques of girls in school, and despite the fact that the term "female bullying" is often used synonymously with "relational aggression", relational aggression is seen at times in women and men of all ages in spousal, familial, sexual, social, community, political, and religious settings.
Research seems to indicate differences in the types of relational aggression typical to children of different ages. Younger children are more likely to use direct forms of relational aggression, for example, "You can't come to my birthday party." In contrast, older children are more likely to use more covert methods of harm, for example, by making up demeaning stories about the victim and passing them around at school or other environments where social standing is important to the victim.

Forms of Relational Abuse

Gossip - Where the abuser tells others personal information about the victim.
Lies - Where the abuser lies about the victim to others.
Betrayal - Where the abuser breaks agreements with the victim.
Isolation - Where the abuser prevents the victim from socializing with the victim's friends.
Exclusion - Where the abuser prevents the victim from socializing with the abuser's friends.
Humiliation - Where the abuser humiliates or shames the victim in front of others.

Origin of the term

The term relational aggression was first coined in a 1995 study by Crick and Grotpeter.
Despite the novelty of the term, it has gained usage in books, popular articles, academic papers, web sites and even in the title of research conferences.

Abusive relationships

An abusive relationship is an interpersonal relationship characterized by the use or threat of physical or psychological abuse (see battered woman syndrome). Abusive relationships are often characterized by jealousy, emotional withholding, lack of intimacy, infidelity, sexual coercion, verbal abuse, broken promises, physical violence, control games and power plays.(External Link

). Abusive relationships are often progressive. That is, the abuse may get worse over time.

Warning signs of relational aggression

These are some of the warning signs that may indicate abuse:

Physical harm of any kind

Attempts to control aspects of an individual's life (for example, how one dresses, who one's friends are, what one says, etc.)

Humiliation

Coercing and/or threats of physical harm to an individual or those close to him/her.

Demands to know where an individual is at all times

Abuse of drugs or alcohol

Growing up witnessing an abusive relationship, and/or was abused as a child

An individual "rages" when they're hurt, shamed, or are in jeopardy of losing control in the relationship.

Online manipulation ie. abuser is poised to hurt victim using knowledge of technologyFurther Information

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