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Changing dynamics in problematic personality: A multiwave longitudinal study of the relationship between shyness and aggressiveness from childhood to early adulthood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2009

Roos Hutteman
Affiliation:
Utrecht University Humboldt University–Berlin
Jaap J. A. Denissen
Affiliation:
Humboldt University–Berlin
Jens B. Asendorpf*
Affiliation:
Humboldt University–Berlin
Marcel A. G. van Aken
Affiliation:
Utrecht University
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jens B. Asendorpf, Department of Psychology, Humboldt University–Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin D-10099, Germany; E-mail: jens.asendorpf@rz.hu-berlin.de.

Abstract

The present longitudinal study investigated cascade effects linking the longitudinal trajectories of shyness and aggressiveness between age 4 and 23 and individual differences in this longitudinal relationship. Results demonstrated that there were cascade effects from shyness to adjacent measures of aggressiveness at three moments in time, and that the dynamics of these relationships changed over time. Children who were shy at age 6 became less aggressive at age 7 and the same effect was found between age 8 and age 10. From adolescence to early adulthood, the direction of the relationship changed and shy adolescents at age 17 became increasingly aggressive 5 years later. Interindividual differences were found in the latter cascade effect in that shyness at age 17 only predicted an increase in aggressiveness at age 23 for adolescents receiving low levels of support from their parents and for adolescents spending little time in part-time work. Together, findings suggest the importance of examining the development of normal variations in personality and personality disorders from a developmental perspective and taking into account person–environment interactions.

Type
Regular Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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