Université de Fribourg

Effects of Classroom Composition on the Development of Antisocial Behavior in Lower Secondary School

Müller, Christoph Michael ; Hofmann, Verena ; Fleischli, Janine ; Studer, Felix

In: Journal of Research on Adolescence, 2015, vol. 26, p. 345-359

Early adolescence is a critical period during which classroom composition may affect behavioral development. This study investigated whether classmates' levels of aggression and delinquency influenced individual behavior during the first year of secondary school. At this point, students had just transitioned to a new classroom peer environment. A short-term longitudinal design with four...

Université de Fribourg

Classroom Peer Influence From the Entire Class, Dominant Students, and Friends

Müller, Christoph Michael ; Hofmann, Verena ; Fleischli, Janine ; Studer, Felix

In: Journal of cognitive education and psychology, 2016, vol. 15, p. 122-145

Recent research indicates that the development of antisocial behavior among students is influenced by the behavioral characteristics of their classmates. However, not all peers in a given class may exert the same influence. Thus, we examined the extent to which individual development is predicted by the perceived proportion of all students with antisocial behavior in the classroom, socially...