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Effects of provocation on emotions and aggression in males
Author(s) -
Chermack Stephen T.,
Berman Mitchell,
Taylor Stuart P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2337(1997)23:1<1::aid-ab1>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - provocation test , aggression , psychology , harm , poison control , social psychology , human factors and ergonomics , injury prevention , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , medical emergency , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
The effects of provocation of emotions and human physical aggression were examined using a competitive reaction time paradigm. Fifty‐four males participated in the competitive task with a fictitious opponent. Participants were assigned to two conditions, low‐constant provocation and increasing provocation. Aggression was defined as the intensity of electric shocks participants selected for the opponent to receive. Negative emotions (threat, harm) and positive emotions (benefit, challenge) were assessed at four times during the experimental task. The results revealed that both aggressive responding and harm emotions differed as a function of opponent's level of provocation. There was little compelling evidence that emotions served as an important intervening variable in the relationship between provocation and aggression. Aggr. Behav. 23:1–10, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.