Final answer:
Aggressive behavior in children is influenced by factors such as environmental interactions, conditioning, and attachment styles, with the reinforcers used for the behavior being a key influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aggressive behavior in children can be influenced by a variety of factors, including environmental interactions, conditioning, and attachment styles.
Environmental interactions, such as the ways a child can control their actions and the resulting effects, play a significant role. During the toddler years, as they begin to establish independence, children may exhibit aggression if they feel their autonomy is being stifled.
Additionally, conditioning through rewards, like being given a bedtime story for putting away toys, can shape a child's behavior. If aggressive behaviors are inadvertently reinforced, children may continue to exhibit such behaviors to obtain desired outcomes.
Attachment styles, like resistant attachment or avoidant attachment, can also influence a child's aggression. These attachment styles develop from the quality of responsiveness and attentiveness a caregiver provides. Children with resistant or avoidant attachments may display more aggressive behaviors due to fear, insecurity, or indifference.
Therefore, aggressive behavior in children is influenced by the reinforcers used for the behavior, rather than just selfishness or absence of a caregiver.