Children's Action Tendency Scale: A self-report measure of aggressiveness, assertiveness, and submissiveness in children.

Describes a self-report measure of children's aggressiveness, assertiveness, and submissiveness, the Children's Action Tendency Scale. The development and validation of the measure followed the behavioral-analytic method described by M. Goldfried and T. J. D'Zurilla (1969). The measure's 3 subscales were shown to be highly correlated with peer and teacher reports of 6–12 yr old Ss' interpersonal behavior and to have moderate split-half and test–retest reliabilities. Scores on the Submissiveness subscale correlated positively with social desirability (Children's Social Desirability Questionnaire) scores and negatively with self-esteem (Self-Esteem Inventory) scores, and a negative correlation was found between Ss' aggressiveness scores and their social desirability scores. In addition, highly significant differences on the Aggressiveness and Assertiveness subscales were found between public school Ss and clinically aggressive children. Recommendations for the questionnaire's use and for further research are discussed. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)