Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between school failure and deviant behaviour. Particularly the aim is to investigate the nature and the structure of this relationship among a group of students attending the first two grades of high school (312 participants: 173 boys and 139 girls- mean age: 14,3). School records of participants were registered and correlated to two measures of relational and physical aggression. Results highlighted that the relationship between school failure and violent behaviour becomes significant only in the second grade and it is related to a persistent condition of school difficulties. Subjects who are persistently not sufficient at school are also highly involved in violent behaviours.