Final answer:
Boys with Oppositional Defiant Disorder are typically more likely to exhibit direct forms of behavior such as physical aggression compared to girls. This aligns with social norms that allow boys greater freedom in their behavior. Option b is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender Differences in Oppositional Defiant Disorder
When discussing Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), it is important to consider how gender differences might manifest in the diagnosis and behavior associated with the disorder. Research indicates that there are variations in how ODD presents in boys and girls. Boys with ODD are typically more likely to display outward or direct forms of behavior such as physical aggression. On the other hand, it has been documented that boys often have larger degrees of freedom to break rules or commit minor acts of deviance. This could potentially lead to boys with ODD being more prone to substance abuse or engaging in more physically aggressive behavior. This is attributed, in part, to traditional societal roles that allow boys more freedom to be assertive or confrontational.
Conversely, girls are often expected to be more obedient and may receive less tolerance for deviant behavior. This dynamic may influence how ODD manifests differently between genders. For example, girls may be more likely to engage in indirect forms of aggression like relational aggression including gossiping and social exclusion, rather than outright physical altercations.
To directly address the options provided in the question, option b that 'Boys with oppositional defiant disorder are more likely to be physically aggressive' aligns with the patterns observed in research and social observations.