Agressividade e empatia na infância: um estudo correlacional com pré-escolares

Aggressiveness is associated to several problems in the child development, with evidences of inverse correlation with empathy that is seen as a possible inhibitor of such behaviors. Based in the referential of the Social Skills, this study evaluates the differences in the frequency of empathic and aggressive behaviors of preschool children, under structured situations demanding such actings. The participants were 28 children, from 4 to 6 years, of both sexes. The data were collected by recording, with subsequent registration of frequency of the different types of empathic and aggressive behavior. The results did not show correlation between the two groups nor differences associated to age or sex, although a greater proportion of empathic behaviors was a tendency in all of the age groups. Qualitative data concerning the types of empathic and aggressive behaviors associated to age groups are presented. The implications of the present work for the research in the area and for child education are discussed. Keywords: empathy; aggressiveness; preschoolers; social abilities; prevention.