This research reports on an ethnographic study of Marquesas Islanders and their concepts of violent and aggressive behavior. The study interviewed six mothers about their children's behavior at three stages of early life: (1) infants and toddlers; (2) school-aged children; and (3) adolescents. Analysis of the research suggests that violence is configured differently in the Marquesas Islands. Children roughly test each other's abilities to stand up to hazing. When a child is able to put up with social teasing and unwarranted attacks, others say the child has grown up and joined the group. Humor in the face of hazing indicates that the initiate wants very much to be in the group. Americans and Western Europeans use aggression to accentuate individuality. Marquesans appear to use this to test group solidarity. (EH)