Social network analysis in physical education classes: Attractiveness of individuals and targets of verbal aggressiveness

Abstract

The objective of this study is to detect combinations of students’ interpersonal attractiveness and verbal aggressiveness during physical education and to point out their determinants. A sample of four students’ networks (88 nodes—50 male and 38 female) from secondary education in Trikala, Greece has been collected. Standardized questionnaires were used. Social network analysis, Spearman and PCA have been implemented. Main results: Scientific attractiveness is positively related to social and physical attractiveness. It seems to protect from being a target of verbal aggressiveness. Social attractiveness seems to protect less than scientific attractiveness from being a target for verbal aggressiveness, while physical attractiveness encourages receiving verbal aggressiveness. Specific behavioral types are proposed: “the powerful and attractive mentor” who consists of scientific, social and physical attractiveness, is recognized as a mentor, attracts others’ sympathy and at the same time they are protected from all forms of verbal aggressiveness and “the socially unattractive target” who is physically attractive and at the same time a target for all forms of verbal aggressiveness. © Common Ground Research Networks, Maria Litsa, Alexandra Bekiari, Kyriaki Spanou, All Rights Reserved.