Variation of aggressive interaction among male elementary school children as a function of changes in spatial density

The behavior of children was monitored during unstructured playground activity in areas of differing size. The frequency of fighting increased significantly in the smaller area, although the aggressive episodes were of briefer duration. In addition, the style of aggression differed significantly between the two conditions. Fighting in the smaller area typically involved more than two children. The results are considered in the context of Hediger's critical distance hypothesis (1950).This article is based in part upon a paper presented to the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, April 1975.The authors wish to thank the administration of Crockett Elementary School, San Marcos, Texas, for their cooperation during the course of the research for the study.