'You just stare at them and give them daggers': Nonverbal expressions of social aggression in teenage girls.

R. Shute, L. Owens & P. Slee, International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, v.10, n.4, 2002, pp.353-72.

Social aggression is aggression 'aimed at hurting others through damaging their peer relationships'. It occurs more among girls than boys, especially in adolescence. To study the role of nonverbal behaviour in social aggression, focus groups containing six to eight participants were conducted with 54 Year 10 students from two middle-class schools in Adelaide, South Australia. Students described a range of behaviour frequently used, including giving 'daggers', hand gestures, ignoring, huddling and exclusionary greeting rituals. These behaviours, which were used in situations ranging from arguing best friends to groups of girls excluding individuals, were often not obvious to teachers so victims had few avenues for recourse. Effects ranged from confusion and paranoia to school changing and suicidal thoughts. Strategies to reduce this form of bullying include raising teacher awareness, including it in anti-victimisation policies, educating girls about the seriousness of these behaviours and training them in peer-based methods of conflict resolution. This might allow girls to use their 'interpersonal Achilles heel'--the closeness of their peer relationships--for more positive purposes.