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The role of behavioral undercontrol in the relation between alcohol use and partner aggression.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest that pre-existing aggressive personality traits moderate the relationship between alcohol use and intimate partner violence. The current study extends this literature by examining the relationship between behavioral undercontrol, patterns of alcohol use and relationship aggression in the context of a large, high-risk sample. METHOD: Participants were drawn from a cohort of 489 young adults taking part in an 11-year longitudinal study. Participants completed self-report measures of behavioral undercontrol, alcohol use and relationship aggression at Years 7 and 11 of the study when most were 25 and 29 years old, respectively. RESULTS: Results revealed that a composite measure of behavioral undercontrol predicted relationship aggression cross-sectionally. Although the composite behavioral undercontrol measure did not interact with alcohol use to predict relationship aggression, one of the measures that comprised the composite (the Agreeableness scale from the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness to Experience Five Factor Inventory) did. Longitudinal analyses revealed that behavioral undercontrol measured at Year 7 did not predict relationship aggression measured at Year 11. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that behavioral undercontrol is related to relationship aggression outside the laboratory. Individuals with low levels of agreeableness also appear to be at heightened risk for intoxicated aggression. Potential explanations for these findings are discussed.

Aggression↗

Ethanol prevents desensitization of 5-HT2 receptor-mediated responses consequent to defeat in territorial aggression.

The effect of intruder status in territorial aggression on behavior in the elevated plus-maze, the open field and on 5-HT2 receptor-mediated behaviors was evaluated in male Long-Evans hooded rats. Intruders (350 g) were placed in the home cages of aggressive resident rats (475-600 g) and removed after 20 roll-tumble fights. On the following day, the rats were tested on the elevated plus-maze, and behavior in the open field was evaluated after injection with the 5-HT2/1C receptor agonist, DOI (1.0 mg/kg). The number of headshakes following DOI injection are thought to be an indicator of 5-HT2 receptor function. Although several other stressors were evaluated, only defeat in territorial aggression caused a significant decrement in the number of headshakes following DOI injection. To determine if ethanol (ET) could decrease the behavioral consequences of defeat, the effect of ET (1.25 g/kg) given before and immediately after aggression on behavior 24 hours later was evaluated. Although ET treatment had no effect on the control group that did not experience aggression, the ET treatment attenuated the desensitization of 5-HT2 receptor-mediated responses induced by aggression and severely exacerbated the anxiety-like effects as measured in the elevated plus-maze. These data suggest that (1) 5-HT2 receptor sensitivity decreases as a consequence of defeat, but not after several other stressors; (2) defeat in territorial aggression results in significant anxiety-like effects in the elevated plus-maze 24 hours later; and (3) these anxiety-like effects are exacerbated when ET is given before, and immediately after, the aggression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aggression↗

Alcohol, drugs and human physical aggression.

Research on the relationship between alcohol, drugs and aggression is reviewed. The findings indicate that alcohol is a potent antecedent of aggressive behavior. Studies conducted in our laboratory demonstrate that aggressive behavior is related to the quantity of alcohol ingested, that the effect of social pressure to aggress and of intense provocation is enhanced by alcohol, that the instigating effect of alcohol depends upon the aggressive disposition of the alcohol consumer, that the aggressive behavior of the intoxicated person can be regulated by altering cues that affect cognitive processes and that other depressant increase aggressive responding. A hypothetical model is described that summarizes the experimental findings and provides a vehicle for discussing the major factors and psychological processes involved in alcohol-induced aggression.

Aggression↗

Alcohol-related aggression during the college years: theories, risk factors and policy implications.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the research literature on alcohol-related aggression with a focus on college students. METHOD: Data from both survey studies and experimental laboratory investigations conducted on college students are reviewed. Various methodological approaches to studying the alcohol-aggression relation, and their associated limitations, are then presented and discussed. RESULTS: The literature indicates that alcohol consumption facilitates aggressive behavior and increases the risk of being the victim of a violent act, particularly in heavy drinkers. Results from these studies are then placed into a context by reviewing 12 influential theories of aggression and alcohol-related aggression. On the basis of these theories and empirical data, a preliminary risk profile is presented to help identify which factors are likely to be important in predicting who will and who will not become aggressive after drinking alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Although much research is still needed to elucidate the intricate causes of alcohol-related aggression, current prevention efforts might focus on modifying key risk factors such as poor cognitive functioning and inaccurate expectations about the effects of alcohol. Other prevention efforts directed specifically at college students might focus on helping them to identify risky situations that might facilitate the expression of intoxicated aggression.

Aggression↗

Aggression and disruptive behavior disorders in children and adolescents.

Aggression is a common symptom of many psychiatric disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, Tourette's disorder, mood disorders (including bipolar disorder), substance-related disorders, alcohol-related disorders, mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorders, intermittent explosive disorder and personality disorders (particularly antisocial personality disorder). Many forms of organic brain disorders may present with aggressive behavior. Aggression is common in some epileptic patients and some endocrinological diseases (e.g., diabetes and hyperthyroidism) may be associated with aggressive behavior. Physicians need to rule out many medical and psychiatric disorders before diagnosing aggressive behavior. A thorough diagnostic work up is the most important step in determining the nature of comorbid disorders associated with the behavioral problem. Structured interviews and rating scales completed by patients, parents, teachers and clinicians may aid the diagnosis and provide quantification for the change process related to treatment. The integration of medication, individual and family counseling, educational and psychosocial interventions including the school and community, may increase the effectiveness of interventions. Due to the common association of aggression and disruptive behaviors with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychostimulants including new generation long-acting medications and other nonstimulant medications are considered the drug of choice for managing aggressive behavior and disruptive behavior disorders. Severe aggressive behavior not responding to these medications may require the single or combined use of mood regulators including lithium and/or antispychotic medications. Drugs such as risperidone (Risperdal, Janssen-Cilag) have documented effectiveness and safety in children and adolescents, and can be used in treatment.

Adolescent↗

The effect of 5-HT(2a/2c) receptor agonist microinjected into central amygdaloid nucleus and median preoptic area on maternal aggressive behavior in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Much evidence supports the hypothesis that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) activation is related to the inhibition of aggression. We examined potentially pro- and anti-aggressive effects of the 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor agonist on specific brain sites. METHOD: Female Wistar rats on the 7th day postpartum were microinjected with the selective 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor agonist, alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine maleate (0.2 to 1.0 microg/0.2 microl) into the central amygdaloid nucleus and median preoptic nucleus. For each brain area studied, the frequency of the behaviors: locomotion, social investigation, lateral threat, attacks (frontal and lateral), and biting the intruder were compared among the various treatments by an Analysis of Variance, followed when appropriate, by Tukey's test. RESULTS: Microinjection of the selective 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor agonist, a-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine maleate into central amygdaloid nucleus increased maternal aggression in the absence of concurrent changes in non-aggressive behavior. By contrast, microinjection of the selective 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor agonist at several dilutions into the median preoptic nucleus did not alter aggressive behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The current and earlier data with pro- and anti-aggressive effects of the 5-HT(2a/2c) receptor agonist, when microinjected into the median preoptic nucleus relative to the central amygdaloid nucleus, medial septum and periaqueductal grey area in female rats point to functionally separate serotonin receptor populations in the amygdaloid-septal-hypothalamic and periaqueductal gray matter areas controlling aggressive behavior. It is possible that amygdaloid 5-HT(2a/2c) receptors may increase aggressive behavior in lactating females as a result of changes in fear.

Aggression↗

Physical and psychological partner aggression across a decade: a growth curve analysis.

The course of physical and psychological partner aggression was investigated over a decade in 203 wives from Suffolk County, New York. Wives reported on their own and on their partners' aggression at one month before marriage and 6, 18, 30, and 120 months after marriage. This follow-up is the longest period over which partner aggression has been examined. Prevalence rates of wife's report of wife- and husband-perpetrated physical aggression were 48% and 35% at premarriage, and 13% and 10% ten years later. Using HLM, husband- and wife-perpetrated physical aggression were found to decrease on average approximately one act of aggression per month, regardless of severity and even when controlling for changes in marital satisfaction. There was no significant pattern of change in psychological aggression. These findings are consistent with cross-sectional analyses, and suggest that physical partner aggression decreases in community samples of couples.

Adult↗

Genetic and environmental influences on intimate partner aggression: a preliminary study.

Social learning theory posits that, because aggression against intimates runs in families, children learn how to behave aggressively through watching their parents and being reinforced for their own aggression. This theory considers only environmental influences on familial resemblance; however, familial resemblance could also be due to genetic factors. The current study uses a twin design (134 monozygotic, 41 dizygotic) to examine the extent to which genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual differences in intimate aggression. Model-fitting analyses consistently showed that shared genes explained the familial resemblance in psychological and physical intimate partner aggression; the remaining variance was explained by unique environments. Multivariate model-fitting analyses showed that most of the genetic influences responsible for the receipt of aggression were also responsible for its use, suggesting that there is a genetic predisposition to get involved in aggressive relationships. These results challenge the prevailing theory to explain familial resemblance in intimate aggression.

Adult↗

Effects of response requirement and alcohol on human aggressive responding.

Nine men participated in two experiments to determine the effects of increased response requirement and alcohol administration on free-operant aggressive responding. Two response buttons (A and B) were available. Pressing Button A was maintained by a fixed-ratio 100 schedule of point presentation. Subjects were instructed that completion of each fixed-ratio 10 on Button B resulted in the subtraction of a point from a fictitious second subject. Button B presses were defined as aggressive because they ostensibly resulted in the presentation of an aversive stimulus to another person. Aggressive responses were engendered by a random-time schedule of point loss and were maintained by initiation of intervals free of point loss. Instructions attributed these point losses to Button B presses of the fictitious other subject. In Experiment 1, increasing the ratio requirement on Button B decreased the number of ratios completed in 4 of 5 subjects. In Experiment 2, the effects of placebo and three alcohol doses (0.125, 0.25, and 0.375 g/kg) were determined when Button B presses were maintained at ratio values of 20, 40 and 80. Three subjects who reduced aggressive responding with increasing fixed-ratio values reduced aggressive responding further at higher alcohol doses. One subject who did not reduce aggressive responding with increasing fixed-ratio values increased aggressive responding at the highest alcohol dose. The results of this study support suggestions that alcohol alters aggressive behavior by reducing the control of competing contingencies.

Adult↗

Distribution of periodontal pathogens in Korean aggressive periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Microbial associations in aggressive periodontitis versus different ethnic origins are substantially unknown. We undertook this study to determine the prevalence of seven putative periodontopathogens in Korean patients and to evaluate microbial differences in localized and generalized aggressive periodontitis patients. METHODS: Thirty-nine aggressive periodontitis patients between 20 and 35 years old (24 males and 15 females; mean age 29.6 years) were selected according to clinical criteria. The patients were subclassified into 17 localized and 22 generalized aggressive periodontitis patients. In each of the 39 individuals, subgingival plaque samples were collected from four diseased teeth (> or = 6 mm probing depth, 156 sites) and one healthy site (< or = 3 mm probing depth, 39 sites). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments (about 530 bp) of plaque bacteria and their subsequent detection by dot-blot hybridization using specific oligonucleotide probes were performed to determine the presence of seven periodontopathogens. RESULTS: The prevalences were 75% for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, 94.2% for Tannerella forsythensis (formerly Bacteroides forsythus), 99.4% for Fusobacterium sp., 85.9% for Micromonas micros (formerly Peptostreptococcus micros), 96.8% for Porphyromonas gingivalis, 78.8% for Prevotella intermedia, and 96.8% for Treponema sp. The prevalences of these bacteria were significantly higher in diseased sites than in healthy sites. Logistic regression analysis showed that P. intermedia was more significantly associated with generalized aggressive periodontitis than the localized form, with an odds ratio of 3.28 (95% confidence interval 1.26-8.56, P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the seven periodontal pathogens analyzed are strongly associated with Korean aggressive periodontitis. In particular, P. intermedia are more significantly associated with generalized aggressive periodontitis, a more severe and progressive form, than with localized aggressive periodontitis.

Adult↗

National survey of owner-directed aggression in English Springer Spaniels.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of owner-directed aggression and identify associated environmental and genetic factors in English Springer Spaniels. DESIGN: Prevalence survey. ANIMALS: 1,053 adult English Springer Spaniels. PROCEDURE: A mail survey was sent to 2,400 randomly selected owners of adult American Kennel Club-registered English Springer Spaniels. Dogs with a history of aggression to family members and familiar humans were compared with dogs without such a history. RESULTS: 1,053 questionnaires (56.1% of the 1,877 delivered) were completed. A history of owner-directed growling or more intense aggression was reported in 510 (48.4%) dogs. Two hundred seventy-seven (26.3%) dogs had bitten a human in the past; 65.2% of bites were directed at familiar (owner or nonowner) adults and children. Variables associated with owner-directed aggression included sex of dog (male), neuter status (neutered, regardless of sex), show or bench lines, age > 4 years, aggression to unfamiliar adults and children, acquisition from a hobby breeder, less responsiveness to obedience cues, and a specific kennel and 1 popular sire from that kennel in a 4-generation pedigree. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Owner-directed aggression in adult English Springer Spaniels was associated with a number of environmental, sex-related, and inherited factors. To reduce the risk of aggression, prospective owners might seek a female, hunting-type English Springer Spaniel from an experienced breeder. However, because risk factors are broad and varied, there are limitations to the extent to which behavior can be predicted and further study is needed of the inheritance of aggression in this breed.

Age Factors↗

Sexual aggression: perceptions of its likelihood of occurring and some correlates of self-admitted perpetration.

175 college undergraduate students completed a questionnaire which contained dating scenarios and questions designed to assess the participants' perceptions about the likelihood that sexual aggression would occur in the described dating situations and how justified sexual aggression would be in those situations. Also included were items to assess self-admitted sexual aggression, self-reported sexual victimization, attitudes toward certain affectionate behaviors, and enjoyment of several magazines including the "soft-core" sexually oriented publication Playboy. Analysis indicated that women made significantly higher estimates of the chances of sexual aggression occurring in the described dating situations. Relative to nonvictimized women, victimized women gave significantly higher estimates of the likelihood of sexual aggression and believed that sexual aggression was significantly more justified. Men rated sexual aggression as significantly more justified in a relationship in which the male had been paying all dating expenses relative to one in which dating expenses were shared. Women's ratings were not significantly different. Also, correlates of self-admitted male sexual aggression included greater rated enjoyment of Playboy magazine and less agreement with an item designed to measure attitudes toward physical affection.

Adult↗

Aggressive behaviour in slot machine gamblers: a preliminary observational study.

Gambling is acknowledged to have many negative effects on individuals. However, from a psychological perspective, aggression as an outcome of gambling has been largely overlooked to date. The incidence of aggressive behaviour was monitored in 303 slot machine players over four 6-hr. observation periods. Analysis identified four types of common aggressive behaviour. These were (1) verbal aggression towards the gambling arcade staff, (2) verbal aggression towards the slot machines, (3) verbal aggression towards other slot machine players, and (4) physical aggression towards the slot machines. The findings add support to the increasing number of studies highlighting a possible link between gambling and aggression.

Adolescent↗

Aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia: the role of psychopathology.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the psychopathological correlates of aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia. METHOD: Thirty-one aggressive patients in rehabilitation wards meeting DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia were compared with 31 matched non-aggressive patients in relation to their psychopathology using the Clinical Global Index (CGI), Positive and Negative Symptoms scale (PANSS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: The aggressive group had significantly higher CGI, positive symptom, negative symptom, general psychopathology and total PANSS scores than the non-aggressive group. The two groups could be distinguished by three sets of symptoms: symptoms with verbal or/and physical aggression as part of their definition; symptoms suggesting frontal lobe impairment; and excitement. The two groups did not differ in their level of depressive symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: The aggressive group were overall more ill than the non-aggressive group, and the former could be distinguished from the latter by certain aspects of their psychopathology.

Adult↗

A comparison of alcohol, drugs, and aggressive crime among Mexican-American, black, and white male arrestees in Texas.

Few comparative studies exist examining the relationship between substance abuse and aggressive behavior under different social conditions. We studied the relationship between aggressive crime and substance abuse among Mexican-American, black and white male arrestees in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas using existing 1992 Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) data. The aim of the analysis was to predict the outcome of aggressive crime from drug and alcohol-related and ethnic group variables within the total male sample (n = 2,364). Results indicated that ethnicity was significantly related to aggressive crime. Mexican-American arrestees were more likely to be arrested for aggressive crimes than either blacks or whites. Drug and alcohol use effects were found across all ethnic groups. In general, the subgroup which drank frequently and tested positive for drug use was less likely to be charged with aggressive crimes than the other subgroups. The psychopharmacological influence of alcohol as a disinhibitor and drugs as a inhibitor provides one explantation of the results. Specific ethnic subcultural and ecological influences also affect the outcome. Our study strongly indicates the heterogeneous character of the drug using population in relation to aggression. The variability between subculturally defined subgroups requires detained ethnographic field studies in the future to describe the contexts of substance use and aggressive behavior.

Black or African American↗

Self-reported aggression and the perception of anger in facial expression photos.

The author's purpose in this study was to assess the relationship between self-reported aggression and "seeing" anger in others. Eighty-four undergraduate participants completed a self-report questionnaire about their own aggression (i.e., aggressive attitude, verbal aggression, and physical aggression), as well as measures of resiliency and locus of control. They also responded to a series of photographs depicting facial expressions of happy, sad, angry, and fearful emotions. The results indicated that individuals reporting higher levels of overall aggression also misidentified anger from the facial expressions when this was not the emotion presented (errors of commission). No significant differences appeared among individuals reporting high and low levels of aggression in terms of underreporting anger (errors of omission). The author also found significant correlations among identification of anger from photographs, resiliency, and locus of control. The findings of the study have important implications for understanding the relationship between aggression and one's perception of anger in others.

Adult↗

Improving documentation of aggressive behavior in nursing home residents.

1. Although 66% of the 1.3 million elderly nursing home residents in the US exhibit aggressive tendencies, research indicates that caregivers underdocument aggressive incidents. As a result, the extent of aggression is unknown. 2. This study found that LPNs reported the largest percentage (41%) of the 51 documented aggressive incidents, which reportedly occurred most frequently in the bathroom (49% of the time) between 5 AM and noon (86% of the time). Most aggressive residents (55.1%) never had visitors. 3. This study concludes that nursing practice would benefit from a consistent definition of aggression, an easy-to-use clinical instrument to collect data on aggression, and caregiver education programs on assessing aggression.

Aged↗

[Development of a sublimation program for Korean adolescents' aggression].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify a path diagram for the influence of family, personality, sexual abuse, drug abuse, coping strategies, and aggressive impulsiveness on aggression, and to develop a sublimation program for Korean adolescent's aggression. METHOD: Data was collected by self-report questionnaires. Subjects consisted of 2,111 adolescents. A proportional stratified random sampling method was used. The major instrument was the Mental Health Questionnaire for Korean Adolescents, and the Cronbach's Alpha ranged from.54 to.95 for each subscale. Statistical methods were Chi-square, correlation analysis, and path analysis. RESULT: The strongest contributing variables on aggression were person-related aggressive impulsiveness, antisocial personality, self-injured aggressive impulsiveness, gender, sexual abuse, psychosomatic symptoms II, drug abuse, age, parent-child relationship, alcohol abuse and cognitive avoidance coping strategies in the order named. Also the author developed a multi-systemic sublimation program for Korean adolescents's aggression. The multi-systemic sublimation program involves four domains including adolescents, parents, peers and community, and has several therapeutic sub-programs for each domain. CONCLUSION: The ecology of human development is composed of multiple, integrated levels of organization, including biological, individual-psychological, social-interpersonal, cultural, and historical levels. Therefore, this multi-systemic sublimation program will prevent and decrease the rate of aggressive behavior among Korean adolescents.

Adolescent↗