Peer Conflict Scale (PCS)

The Peer Conflict Scale (PCS) is a copyright protected 40-item questionnaire designed to assess aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. The scale has items assessing Physical Proactive Aggression, Physical Reactive Aggression, Relational Proactive Aggression and Relational Reactive Aggression. There are three versions of the scale: Peer Conflict Scale – Parent Version, Peer Conflict Scale – Teacher Version, and Peer Conflict Scale-Youth Version. Researchers can download and use the PCS free of charge in their work. The only requirement is that the instructions, item wording, and item response format not be changed.

There is no manual for the PCS. Several studies which describe the development of the scale, its subscale structure, and initial tests of its validity can be obtained here.

Key References

Crapanzano, A.M., Frick, P.J., & Terranova, A. M. (2010). Patterns of physical and relational aggression in a school-based sample of boys and girls. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 433-445.

Marsee, M.A., & Frick, P.J. (2007). Exploring the cognitive and emotional correlates to proactive and reactive aggression in a sample of detained girls. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35, 969-981.

Marsee, M.A., Frick, P.J., Barry, C.T., Kimonis, E.R., Munoz-Centifanti, L.C., & Aucoin, K.J. (2014). Profiles of the forms and functions of self-reported aggression in three adolescent samples. Development and Psychopathology, 26, 705-720.

Matlasz, T., Frick, P.J., Robertson, E.L., Walker, T., Ray, J.V., Thornton, L.C., Myers, T.D.W., Steinberg, L., & Cauffman, E. (2020). Does self-report of aggression after first arrest predict future offending and do the forms and functions of aggression matter? Psychological Assessment, 32, 265-276.

Munoz, L.C., Frick, P.J., Kimonis, E.R., & Aucoin, K.J. (2008). Types of aggression, responsiveness to provocation, and callous-unemotional traits in detained adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36, 15-28.

Thornton, L.C., Frick, P.J., Crapanzano, A.M., & Terranova, A.M. (2013). The incremental utility of callous-unemotional traits in predicting aggression and bullying in a community sample of boys and girls. Psychological Assessment, 31, 256-270.