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PubMed1979

Does aggression cause a preference for viewing media violence?

Virtually all of the research concerned with media violence has attempted to determine whether the viewing of violence is associated with or causes aggression. Little experimental research has been directed at understanding why persons view media violence. The present research experimentally tested the hypotheses that physical aggression and fantasy aggression would lead to a preference for viewing violence. In Experiment 1, undergraduate men and women were induced to express aggressive, nonaggressive, or no fantasies and were then given an opportunity to select film clips for viewing. The films chosen by men contained more violence than those chosen by women. In addition, aggressive fantasies in males, compared to nonaggressive fantasies, increased the preference for viewing violence. Experiment 2, using only males, replicated the results of the first study and also found that men who were given an opportunity to aggress physically, compared to those who had no such opportunity, were more likely to choose to view films containing violent content. These results provide an additional perspective on the relationship between the observation of violence and the expression of aggression by suggesting that the causal effects are bidirectional: Just as the viewing of violence may increase aggression, so, too, aggressive behavior may increase the preference for viewing violence.

Aggression↗
PubMed1981

Behavioral and physiological reactions to observed violence: effects of prior exposure to aggressive stimuli.

Eight male subjects first watched either a videotaped sequence that was violent and arousing in nature or one that was arousing but less violent. Subjects then observed either a second videotape or a sequence of aggressive acts or no videotape. Subjects who were shown the second videotape were told that the aggressive acts they saw were either justified or not justified by previous events. Other subjects were given no information regarding justification of the observed aggression. It was found that subjects who had first seen an arousing but less violent tape were subsequently more aggressive toward an antagonist if they had also observed justified violence than if they had seen nonjustified violence. Subjects who had first watched the violent videotape showed no differences in aggression as a function of the justification of the second set of aggressive acts. Analysis of blood pressure data showed that prior exposure to violence attenuated arousal in response to subsequently observed aggression, but that the context in which aggression was seen as justified or nonjustified did not influence arousal. The results are discussed in terms of differential sensitivity to cues that inhibit or disinhibit aggression as a result of previous exposure to violence.

Aggression↗
PubMed1982

Instigative aggression as a function of past experience and target characteristics.

Third-party-instigated aggression was examined by manipulating the provocativeness of the same or a new target in Part 2 of a task. Effects of previous experience with aggression (i.e., interacting with partners supportive of or disapproving of aggression in Part 1) were also examined. Although the provocativeness of the target accounted for the most variance in the amount of aggression expressed, when the target in Part 2 was new, prior experience influenced aggression. Results are discussed in terms of and interactional model of behavior. The clearer the current situational demands (i.e., known, predictable target) were, the less the influence of past aggressive experience on continued aggression; the more ambiguous the current situation (i.e., new, unpredictable target) was, the more the influence of past aggressive experience on continued aggression.

Aggression↗
PubMed1987

Intellectual functioning and aggression.

In a 22-year study, data were collected on aggressiveness and intellectual functioning in more than 600 subjects, their parents, and their children. Both aggression and intellectual functioning are reasonably stable in a subject's lifetime and perpetuate themselves across generations and within marriage pairs. Aggression in childhood was shown to interfere with the development of intellectual functioning and to be predictive of poorer intellectual achievement as an adult. Early IQ was related to early subject aggression but did not predict changes in aggression after age 8. On the other hand, differences between early IQ and intellectual achievement in middle adulthood were predictable from early aggressive behavior. A dual-process model was offered to explain the relation between intellectual functioning and aggressive behavior. We hypothesized that low intelligence makes the learning of aggressive responses more likely at an early age, and this aggressive behavior makes continued intellectual development more difficult.

Achievement↗
PubMed1987

Television violence and children's aggression: testing the priming, social script, and disinhibition predictions.

The effect of television violence on boys' aggression was investigated with consideration of teacher-rated characteristic aggressiveness, timing of frustration, and violence-related cues as moderators. Boys in Grades 2 and 3 (N = 396) watched violent or nonviolent TV in groups of 6, and half the groups were later exposed to a cue associated with the violent TV program. They were frustrated either before or after TV viewing. Aggression was measured by naturalistic observation during a game of floor hockey. Groups containing more characteristically high-aggressive boys showed higher aggression following violent TV plus the cue than following violent TV alone, which in turn produced more aggression than did the nonviolent TV condition. There was evidence that both the violent content and the cue may have suppressed aggression among groups composed primarily of boys low in characteristic aggressiveness. Results were interpreted in terms of current information-processing theories of media effects on aggression.

Aggression↗
PubMed2004

Proactive and reactive aggression in referred children and adolescents.

Investigating different types of aggression is important to facilitate a better understanding of excessive maladaptive aggression in referred youth. Using regression analysis, the authors investigated demographic, historical, diagnostic, and treatment correlates of proactive aggression and reactive aggression in a heterogeneous population (N = 323) of psychiatrically referred youths. Ratings of proactive and reactive aggression significantly correlated with more established measures of aggression. Results suggest the importance of hyperactive/impulsive behavior, disruptive behavior disorders, and self-reported hostility in youths with both reactive and proactive aggression. Substance use disorders, a family history of substance abuse, and family violence were specifically associated with proactive aggression. Younger age and a history of abuse were correlated with reactive aggression. Implications for clinical interventions and future research are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Overt and relational aggression and perceived popularity: developmental differences in concurrent and prospective relations.

Relations of overt and relational aggression with perceived popularity among children and early adolescents were examined in 2 studies (Ns = 607 and 1,049). Among older youths, positive concurrent relations found between overt aggression and perceived popularity became nonsignificant when relational aggression was controlled, whereas positive associations found between relational aggression and perceived popularity held when overt aggression was controlled. Aggression and perceived popularity were not positively related for the younger participants. The 2nd study also examined the temporal ordering of these relations over 6 months. For older girls, positive relations between relational aggression and perceived popularity were bidirectional. For older boys, relational aggression did not predict increased perceived popularity, but perceived popularity predicted increased relational aggression. Implications for intervention are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Personality and aggressive behavior under provoking and neutral conditions: a meta-analytic review.

The authors conducted a comprehensive review to understand the relation between personality and aggressive behavior, under provoking and nonprovoking conditions. The qualitative review revealed that some personality variables influenced aggressive behavior under both neutral and provocation conditions, whereas others influenced aggressive behavior only under provocation. Studies that assessed personality variables and that directly measured aggressive behavior were included in the quantitative review. Analyses revealed that trait aggressiveness and trait irritability influenced aggressive behavior under both provoking and neutral conditions but that other personality variables (e.g., trait anger, Type A personality, dissipation-rumination) influenced aggressive behavior only under provoking conditions. The authors discuss possible relations between these patterns of aggressive behavior and the personality dimensions of Agreeableness and Neuroticism and consider implications for theories of aggression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The development of an observer-scale for measuring social dysfunction and aggression.

Scales for measuring aggressive cognitions and behaviour have mainly been administered by nursing-staff or been self-ratings. During recent years we have made an attempt to construct an observer-scale for aggression analogous to the Hamilton scale for depression. The Social Dysfunction and Aggression Scale (SDAS) consists of 9 items (SDAS-9) covering outward aggression and 2 items (SDAS-2) covering inward aggression. The inter-observer reliability of the SDAS has been found adequate in terms of intra-class coefficients. In a pilot study on 82 inpatients from different centres in Denmark and Sweden the SDAS was compared to three-item scales for outward and inward aggression and to a global scale for outward aggression. The results showed that the SDAS-9 correlated positively with the other outward observer-scales, and the SDAS-2 with the other inward scale. A divergent validity was seen between the outward and inward scales, indicating that it is necessary to measure both dimensions. Preliminary ranks-according-to-frequency scores showed the following order of the nine outward items: irritability, dysphoric mood, social disturbances, nondirected verbal aggressiveness, negativism, directed verbal aggressiveness, physical violence towards staff, physical violence towards things, and physical violence towards persons other than staff.

Aggression↗
PubMed1999

The relationship between aggression in children and locus of control beliefs.

Gender differences are evident in the etiology and maintenance of aggressive behavior (which is on the increase for both male and female youths), but the explanatory models that have been proposed, including social learning theory and information processing models, are more appropriate for boys than for girls. In an attempt to elucidate processes underlying aggression, particularly for girls, the authors explored locus of control as a cognitive variable possibly related to aggressive behavior. The relationships between teacher-reported aggression and 3 types of locus of control (internal, powerful other, and unknown) for success and failure experiences were investigated. For girls, aggressive behavior was positively related to internal and unknown locus of control. In contrast, boys' aggressive behavior was unrelated to internal locus of control beliefs and negatively related to external locus of control beliefs. Possible explanatory mechanisms for the relationship between locus of control beliefs and aggression are discussed. The present study contributes to the understanding of aggression in girls and points to different processes underlying girls' and boys' aggression.

Aggression↗
PubMed1984

Aggression in professional ice hockey: a strategy for success or a reaction to failure?

Results of previous examinations of aggression-performance relationships in sport may have been spurious since they have been based on entire games and seasons. The present paper argues that the injury or intimidation caused by aggression would be most likely to have a positive effect on performance if it occurred early in a contest or season. This early aggression might be offset by aggression later in the game or season committed by frustrated and/or revenge-seeking teams that were losing. Aggression-performance relationships for 32 professional hockey teams were examined at various times during 1176 games over four seasons. The correlation between aggression and performance was nonsignificant regardless of the segment of the season. A significant positive relationship (r = .48) was found between aggression committed in the first period and overall performance. It was concluded that, provided it takes place early in a contest, aggression is an effective strategy for success in ice hockey. The evidence implied but did not statistically support the conclusion that aggression is also employed by hockey teams as a reaction to failure.

Aggression↗
PubMed2003

Intrafamily aggression in Turkey: frequency, instigation, and acceptance.

The present study was designed (a) to determine the frequency of aggression within different pairs of family members, (b) to define actions that may be construed as instigations of intrafamily aggression when committed by different members of the family, and (c) to investigate acceptance rates for different types of aggression from and toward different family members as reactions to different instigations. Questionnaires were administered verbally to 185 Turkish men and women between the ages of 14 and 75. The reported frequency of aggression was highest in mother-child relationships. Reported frequencies were higher for milder acts of aggression than for harsher acts. Content analyses of definitions of different actions that could be construed as instigations for aggression varied, depending on the person performing the act. Variations were consistent with power differences within the family and with gender stereotypes. The acceptance rate for intrafamily aggression was higher for verbal than for physical aggression and showed variations, depending on the nature of the instigation. Discussion focused on the relationship between intrafamily aggression and control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Measuring aggression in older adults: a latent variable modeling approach.

This cross-sectional measurement study demonstrates a technique for combining information from several aggression scales into one aggression score using latent variable modeling. Participants included male patients (n = 49) with a DSM-IV diagnosis of dementia at The Veterans Affairs Medical Center Outpatient Geriatric Psychiatry Clinic. Data from seven aggression scales were used to indicate the latent aggression variable. Results provided evidence that a unidimensional latent variable model of aggression adequately represented the data. Reliability of the aggression latent variable was estimated as 0.90, whereas reliability of the separate scales estimated with this sample were less than 0.84. Our findings suggest that combining multiple scales into one aggression score using latent variable modeling results in comprehensive and reliable aggression scores that offer researchers several advantages over current methods for measuring aggression.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Safer at work: development and evaluation of an aggression and violence minimization program.

OBJECTIVE: Aggression and violence are recognized as significant occupational risks for health care staff. A new aggression minimization program for all public health service staff at risk in New South Wales, Australia was developed and evaluated. Twenty-two hours of training was divided into specific modules addressing: general aggression and violence minimization competencies (modules 1 and 4, 10 h); the specific needs of staff working in high-risk environments (module 2, 8 h); and a module for workplace managers and supervisors (module 3, 4 h). METHOD: Two pilot samples were evaluated: (i) 15 experienced aggression trainers from across New South Wales completed and evaluated a two-day 'train the trainer' program; (ii) 48 experienced health staff completed the four training modules and assessed satisfaction, knowledge and skills acquired, attitudes toward managing aggression and confidence in dealing with aggressive incidents. RESULTS: Program materials were judged to be highly suitable. Staff were satisfied and increased their knowledge and skills, and evidenced improved attitudes toward working with aggressive patients. A significant increase in staff confidence for dealing with aggressive incidents was also found, with the more modules staff completed the greater their confidence in dealing with aggressive incidents. CONCLUSIONS: The program may contribute to helping health service industry staff attain a safer workplace.

Aggression↗
PubMed2005

Similarities and differences between aggressive and delinquent children and adolescents in a national sample.

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in the correlates, comorbidity and use of services between aggressive and delinquent children and adolescents. METHOD: An Australian representative sample (n = 4083) of parents of children and adolescents were administered a psychiatric diagnostic interview, the Child Behaviour Checklist, and other instruments to measure service use. The characteristics of children with high scores (top 5%) in the aggressive and delinquent syndromes or both were then examined. RESULTS: The proportion of aggressive children decreased with increasing age while that of delinquents increased. The aggressive group was specifically associated with the impulsive-hyperactive subtype of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (OR = 12.63; 95% CI = 5.97-26.74). Comorbidity between ADHD, aggression and delinquency was less frequent among adolescents than in children, with the exception of the inattentive subtype in which comorbidity was higher. Both aggressive and delinquent groups had a considerable overlap with conduct disorder. Aggressive and delinquent youths used services more often, but parents perceived aggressive children as more in need of help than delinquent ones. Living in a sole parent family was specifically associated with the delinquent group (OR = 3.34; 95% CI = 2.25-4.96). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that these empirically derived syndromes while sharing many features also differ in important ways, highlighting the need for further convergence between categorical and dimensional classifications. Their differential association with the subtypes of ADHD requires further examination and may help to understand the relationship between ADHD and conduct problems. The importance of aggressive behaviour in children should not be underestimated since it is associated with significant psychopathology, parental distress and use of services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Does serotonin influence aggression? comparing regional activity before and during social interaction.

Serotonin is widely believed to exert inhibitory control over aggressive behavior and intent. In addition, a number of studies of fish, reptiles, and mammals, including the lizard Anolis carolinensis, have demonstrated that serotonergic activity is stimulated by aggressive social interaction in both dominant and subordinate males. As serotonergic activity does not appear to inhibit agonistic behavior during combative social interaction, we investigated the possibility that the negative correlation between serotonergic activity and aggression exists before aggressive behavior begins. To do this, putatively dominant and more aggressive males were determined by their speed overcoming stress (latency to feeding after capture) and their celerity to court females. Serotonergic activities before aggression are differentiated by social rank in a region-specific manner. Among aggressive males baseline serotonergic activity is lower in the septum, nucleus accumbens, striatum, medial amygdala, anterior hypothalamus, raphe, and locus ceruleus but not in the hippocampus, lateral amygdala, preoptic area, substantia nigra, or ventral tegmental area. However, in regions such as the nucleus accumbens, where low serotonergic activity may help promote aggression, agonistic behavior also stimulates the greatest rise in serotonergic activity among the most aggressive males, most likely as a result of the stress associated with social interaction.

Aggression↗
PubMed1999

The neglected link between eating disturbances and aggressive behavior in girls.

OBJECTIVES: Research has linked eating disturbances with behavioral impulsivity. Little is known, however, about whether eating disturbances and aggressive behavior have a tendency to co-occur in the same girls. This article assesses the eating disturbance-aggressive behavior association and then examines the extent to which these factors confer a risk on drug use and attempted suicide. METHOD: Survey data were gathered from 3,630 girls in grades 6 through 12 in the upper Midwest. Girls responded anonymously to questions regarding binge eating and purging, dietary restriction, aggressive behavior, drug use, and attempted suicide. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the unique contribution of demographic variables, eating disturbances, and aggression on drug use and attempted suicide. RESULTS: Eating disturbances were significantly associated with aggressive behavior. Girls who endorsed binge eating and purging or dietary restriction had odds of aggressive behavior 2 to 4 times higher than girls who did not endorse these items. Logistic regression revealed that eating disturbances and aggressive behavior were significantly associated with both drug use and attempted suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Eating disturbances are significantly associated with aggressive conduct in adolescent girls. The constellation of eating disturbances and aggressive behavior is associated with a greater risk of drug use and attempted suicide.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Association of the serotonin transporter and 5HT1Dbeta receptor genes with extreme, persistent and pervasive aggressive behaviour in children.

There is an inverse correlation between central nervous system serotonergic activity and human aggression, and aggressive traits are at least partially heritable. The present study sought to investigate the relationship between childhood aggression and polymorphisms of two serotonin system genes: the 5HT1Dbeta receptor gene and the serotonin transporter (5HTT) gene. Fifty children with a minimum 2-year history of aggression and scores above the 90th percentile on the Aggression subscales of both the Child Behaviour Checklist and the Teacher's Report Form were included in the study. All probands and locally recruited ethnically matched controls were genotyped for the 5HT1Dbeta G861C, 5HTTLPR (promoter) and 5HTT variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphisms. Chi-square tests revealed a significantly reduced frequency of the 5HTT VNTR 10R allele in children displaying the high-aggression phenotype compared with normal controls (P=0.039). After correction for multiple comparisons, this association reached the level of a trend but was no longer significant. Probands also demonstrated an increased 5HT1Dbeta 861C allele frequency, but this was not statistically significant (P=0.156). 5HTTLPR was not found to be significantly associated with aggression, but our data support previous findings of an association between this polymorphism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (P=0.025). While these preliminary findings should be interpreted cautiously, our data suggest that the 5HTT VNTR polymorphism is associated with measures of aggressive behaviour in a sample of children displaying extreme, persistent and pervasive aggression.

Adolescent↗