Communication of Female Relational Aggression in the College Environment

Abstract

Relational aggression is a set of direct (e.g., name-calling) or indirect (e.g., spreading rumors) behaviors designed to harm a target's social relationships and status. Interviews conducted with 30 college women revealed that relationally aggressive episodes involved small groups of women, took on common forms, included key content issues, occurred through face-to-face and mediated communication, and were managed in limited ways.

Keywords:

• College Women
• Communication Aggression
• Relational Aggression

Acknowledgments

We thank Alicia Linder, Jasmaine Seaberry, Caitlin Francis, Megan Bassick, and Andrea MacDonald for their assistance on this manuscript. This research project is supported by a grant from the University of Hartford Women's Education and Leadership Fund. A version of this article was presented to the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, November 17, 2011.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aimee E. Miller-Ott

Aimee E. Miller-Ott (PhD, University of Nebraska, 2007) is an assistant professor in the School of Communication, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117. E-mail: [email protected].

Lynne Kelly

Lynne Kelly (PhD, Pennsylvania State University, 1982) is a professor in the School of Communication, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117. E-mail: [email protected]