Peer rejection affects children in three groups - aggressive-rejected, withdrawn-rejected, and aggressive-withdrawn. Aggressive-rejected children are disruptive and see peers as threatening. Withdrawn-rejected children are socially inhibited and have low self-esteem. Aggressive-withdrawn children exhibit both aggressive and withdrawn behaviors and have the poorest peer relationships. All three groups are at risk for social and emotional problems.

1. Rejection
• Peer rejection affects children differently.
Rejected children are divided in 3 groups:
1) Aggressive-rejected
2) Withdrawn-rejected
3) Aggressive-withdrawn
• All these groups tend to have problems.

2. Aggressive-Rejected
• Aggressive-rejected children (aka bullies) have
the following attributes:
 They are disruptive & aggressive with their
peers.
 See peer interactions as threatening & are likely
to use aggressive strategies in response to
negative behaviours.
 Tend to have an exaggerated idea of their
competence and social status.
 Not all aggressive children are rejected

3. Withdrawn-Rejected
• Withdrawn-rejected children :
 Are socially withdrawn but do not exhibit
aggressive tendencies.
 Tend to be inhibited, anxious, and
interpersonally reserved.
 They have a negative self-concept and tend to
interpret negative peer reactions as a resulting
from their own personal failings.

4.  have difficulty dealing with stress.
 May exhibit inappropriate emotions and display
various unusual behavioural mechanisms that
are likely to draw ridicule from their peers.
 Social status among classmates is likely to
decline; they may become targets for
bullying, less likely to be involved in reciprocal
friendships.
 Although some withdrawn children have close
relationships with a favourite sibling, it does not
entirely protect them from the negative
consequences of peer rejection.

5. Withdrawn-rejected children are more
likely to experience high levels of
loneliness and to worry about the quality of
their relationships with peers.

6. Aggressive-withdrawn
• Aggressive-withdrawn children:
 Are both aggressive and withdrawn and are
least well-liked of the three.
 exhibit anxiety, poor self-control, and socially
withdrawn in addition to aggressive behaviour.
 Rated by other children as incompetent in
school ability; unattractive; showing the poorest
skills in leadership, cooperation, or sense of
humour; and the most likely to behave
inappropriately in school.

7. Despite high levels of peer rejection, they
do not have the same low self-concept
and negative view of their abilities as
withdrawn children.
Are likely to have future adjustment
problems and often require psychiatric
treatment in adolescence or adulthood.