Girls Just Being Girls? Mediating Relational Aggression and Victimization

Although physical aggression has received much attention in the literature, relational aggression has only been explored in the past decade or so. This is problematic given that relational aggression is increasingly prevalent among middle school girls and has become a cause for alarm, as this phenomenon leads to several negative psychological, social, and academic outcomes. Furthermore, it often goes undetected because this behavior is typically viewed as "girls just being girls." The purpose of this article is to help school personnel understand relational aggression and its effects, identify aggressors and victims, and recognize the importance of social support. Prevention and intervention methods for ameliorating the problem are provided.