A recent study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships provides evidence that young adults who hold hostile sexist beliefs are more likely to engage in behaviors designed to damage the social relationships of their peers. The findings suggest that challenging traditional gender norms among youth might not only reduce prejudiced bias but also improve the way young people treat one another. Scientists typically study aggressive behavior by looking at predictors linked to small social circles, like family or school environments. This approach tends to overlook how broader societal beliefs, such as expectations about gender and power, influence human interactions. To address this gap, scientists wanted to examine the relationship between sexist attitudes and a specific type of social harm known as relational aggression. Relational aggression involves actions intended to hurt someone by damaging their friendships, reputation, or sense of social inclusion. These attacks can involve spreading malicious gossip, intentionally leaving someone out of group activities, or giving a peer the silent treatment. Relational aggression generally takes two distinct forms. Proactive relational aggression …