Previous studies have shown that status goals motivate direct forms of
interpersonal aggression. However, status goals have been studied mostly
in isolation from affection goals. It is theorized that the means by
which status and affection goals are satisfied change during
adolescence, which can affect aggression. This is tested in a pooled
sample of (pre)adolescents (N = 1536;
49% girls; ages 10–15), by examining associations between status goals
and direct aggression and the moderating role of affection goals. As
hypothesized, with increasing age, status goals were more strongly
associated with direct aggression. Moreover, for older adolescents,
status goals were only associated with aggression when affection goals
were weak. These findings support the changing relationship between
status goals and direct aggression during adolescence.