PREDICTING THE FORMATION OF MUTUAL ANTIPATHIES IN PRIMARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS

Enemy relationships play an important role in shaping identity, adjustment, and group cohesion. However, little is known about the causes of enemy relationships. The current study identified the role of individual and dyadic attributes in the formation of new mutual antipathies in primary and middle school children (N=372). Participants completed identical surveys at three time points during a single school year. Self-reports described children’s conduct problems and emotional problems. Peer nominations measured children’s popularity, academic achievement, athleticism, and acceptance. The results indicated that enemy formation was driven by undesirable traits at both the individual and dyadic levels. At the individual level, lower academic achievement and higher conduct problems increased the odds of enemy formation. At the dyadic level, similarities between peers on conduct problems and emotional problems increased the odds of enemy formation. The findings, together with previous studies on the consequences of participation in enemy relationships, suggest that problems from enemy relationships contribute to the formation of new enemy relationships.