Aggression - Studies

Aggress to Impress — Griskevicius et al. (2009)

• Who/What: 178 participants read scenarios (competition vs. courtship vs. control) and responded to provocation at a party.

• Key Manipulation: Whether aggression would signal status to a same-sex audience.

• Results:

  • Courtship condition produced significantly higher direct aggression for males.

  • Competition showed trend but not significant.

  • Control condition showed minimal aggression.

• Interpretation: Male aggression may serve mate-attraction/status signalling functions.

Bobo Doll Study — Bandura (1977) Social Learning Theory

• Who/What: Children observed adult models behaving aggressively or non-aggressively.

• Measurements: Children’s behaviour toward inflatable doll.

• Results: Exposure to aggressive models increased imitative aggression; effects differed by child and model gender.

• Interpretation: Aggression can be learned observationally; reinforcement not always necessary.

Video Game Self-Model — Fischer, Kastenmüller & Greitemeyer (2010)

• Who/What: Participants played violent vs. non-violent games with personalised vs. non-personalised avatars.

• Measure: Hot chilli sauce allocated to another person (aggression proxy).

• Results: Aggression highest when game was violent AND avatar personalised.

• Interpretation: Self-identification with aggressive role increases aggressive output.

Social Roles & Aggression — Lightdale & Prince (1994)

• Who/What: Participants either de-individuated (anonymous) or individuated (accountable).

• Results: Males more aggressive when individuated; females more aggressive when de-individuated.

• Interpretation: Social roles and accountability shape gendered aggression expression.

Heat & Aggression — Anderson, Bushman & Groom (1997)

• Who/What: Examined crime rates and temperature across 50 U.S. cities (1950–1995).

• Results: Higher temperatures predicted more serious/deadly assaults; no relationship with property crime.

• Interpretation: Heat increases irritability and reactive anger-based aggression.

Alcohol & Aggression — Giancola et al. (2009)

• Who/What: Participants assigned to alcohol vs. placebo; aggression measured via electric shocks in competition.

• Results: Alcohol increased aggression for both sexes; stronger effects for men.

• Interpretation: Alcohol impairs inhibitory control and evaluation of consequences.

Alcohol Mechanisms — Bartholow et al. (2003)

• Who/What: Tested alcohol effects on attention and inhibition.

• Results: Alcohol impaired response accuracy, not speed; narrowed attentional focus.

• Interpretation: Alcohol promotes aggression via reduced inhibitory processing.

Culture of Honour — Cohen & Nisbett (1994)

• Claim/Evidence: U.S. South endorses honour norms due to weak law enforcement and property-based threats.

• Interpretation: Aggression legitimised as deterrent for insult/theft.

Culture of Honour — Timmerman (2007)

• Who/What: Analyzed 27,000 MLB hit-by-pitch events.

• Results: Retaliatory aggression more likely after homeruns; stronger for pitchers from U.S. South.

• Interpretation: Honour norms shape aggressive retaliation.

Self-Regulation & Aggression — DeWall et al. (2007)

• Who/What: Ego depletion induced via resisting tempting food; later provoked.

• Results: Ego-depleted participants showed higher aggression when provoked.

• Interpretation: Self-control resources buffer against aggression; depletion increases vulnerability.

Prosocial Thought & Aggression — Meier, Robinson & Wilkowski (2006)

• Who/What: Measured ease of activating prosocial thoughts.

• Results: Faster activation predicted lower aggression after provocation.

• Interpretation: Cognitive accessibility of prosocial schemas reduces aggression.

Catharsis Effects — Bushman (2002)

• Who/What: Tested whether venting reduces aggression.

• Results: Venting increased aggression compared to control conditions.

• Interpretation: Catharsis reinforces aggressive scripts rather than relieving them.

Aggressive Cognition — Anderson et al. (2003)

• Who/What: Tested effects of violent music lyrics.

• Results: Violent lyrics increased hostile thoughts and feelings.

• Interpretation: Violent media primes aggressive cognitions.

Bolstering Self-Esteem — Thomas et al. (2009)

• Who/What: 405 adolescents completed narcissism measures; then self-affirmation vs. no-affirmation; aggression rated by classmates.

• Results: High-narcissism adolescents more aggressive in no-affirmation condition; no difference when affirmed.

• Interpretation: Ego-boosting reduces aggression among narcissistic individuals.