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Anger and aggression during role‐playing: Gender differences between hormonally treated male and female transsexuals and controls
Author(s) -
Van Goozen Stephanie H. M.,
Frijda Nico H.,
Van De Poll Nanne E.
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1002/1098-2337(1995)21:4<257::aid-ab2480210403>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - anger , aggression , psychology , arousal , poison control , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , medical emergency
A role‐playing study on anger was conducted in order to identify the influence of sex hormones on individual and gender differences in irritation, anger arousal, and aggression. Different groups were studied: female‐to‐male and male‐to‐female transsexuals, with either group tested after 3 months of cross‐sex hormone treatment, and untreated control women and men. All subjects were exposed to a 35‐min videotape of an individual tested in an aversive, physically stressful, and frustrating situation in the laboratory. While watching, subjects were asked to imagine being in the same situation. Meanwhile, cardiovascular responses were registered and the intensity of moods and aggressive behaviour were assessed. Apart from a clear effect upon cardiovascular arousal and anger‐related moods, there were also some interesting differences between the four groups, the most interesting one being a stronger aggressive response in the female‐to‐male transsexuals. Furthermore, interesting information was gathered with respect to the issue of whether role‐playing and actual experimentation provide valid tests of anger and aggression in real life. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.