What type of aggression involves harming social connections?

Relational aggression is characterized by behaviors that harm others through damage to their social relationships. Instead of physical harm or direct confrontations, this type of aggression includes tactics such as social exclusion, spreading rumors, and manipulating social networks to undermine someone's reputation or connections. It is often more subtle than physical aggression, but can be equally damaging, especially among children and adolescents who heavily rely on peer relationships for social validation and identity.

In contrast to relational aggression, bullying aggression typically manifests in overt, repeated acts that aim to intimidate or harm the victim directly. Reactive aggression refers to aggressive responses that are impulsive and driven by feelings of anger or provocation. Instrumental aggression involves using aggression as a means to achieve a specific goal or gain something of value, rather than to harm someone socially. Each of these types has distinct characteristics and consequences, but only relational aggression specifically focuses on the harm of social connections.