Interpolating physical exercise between instigation to aggress and aggression: The role of irritability and emotional susceptibility

Abstract

Two studies were conducted using the Buss aggression machine paradigm to investigate the mediational role of physical exercise with respect to subsequent aggression in relation to the presence or absence of previous instigation. The irritability level of subjects was taken into account in the first study, and the subject' emotional susceptibility level in the second study. In both studies sex differences were also considered so that each study resulted in a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 design with ten subjects in each cell. As far as irritability is concerned, experimental subjects (pedaling on a bicycle ergonometer) delivered higher shocks than controls (who just waited out the 10 min the experimental subjects were pedaling), independent of irritability level or of the presence or absence of previous instigation. When emotional susceptibility was taken into consideration, physical exercise associated with high level of emotional susceptibility and previous instigation resulted in increased intensity of the shocks subsequently delivered. These findings are discussed in terms of the importance of stable personality characteristics that may differentially mediate aggression.

It is More than Thought that Counts: the Role of Readiness for Aggression in the Relationship Between Ostracism and Displaced Aggression

“…This prediction was confirmed. The results of this study were consistent with reports relating aggression to emotional susceptibility, irritability, trait anger and impulsiveness (Caprara et al 1986 ; Godlaski and Giancola 2009 ).…”

It is More than Thought that Counts: the Role of Readiness for Aggression in the Relationship Between Ostracism and Displaced Aggression

“…This prediction was confirmed. The results of this study were consistent with reports relating aggression to emotional susceptibility, irritability, trait anger and impulsiveness (Caprara et al 1986 ; Godlaski and Giancola 2009 ).…”

Risky Driving in Adolescents and Young Adults with Childhood ADHD

“…Studies confirm good psychometric properties, reporting a test-retest coefficient of .83 and a split-half consistency of .90 in healthy men and women (Caprara et al, 1985) and even higher coefficients in clinical (Tartar, Blackson, Bringham, Moss, & Caprara, 1995) and other normal samples (Anderson, 1997). Validity for the Caprara Irritability Scale has been established by demonstrating that people with higher irritability scores administer higher shocks on laboratory aggression tasks (Caprara et al, 1986;Parrott & Zeichner, 2001) and rate themselves higher on measures of state hostility (Anderson, 1997).…”

Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency.

“…The predictive validity of these measures has been corroborated experimentally under simulated conditions in which participants can inflict shocks of varying intensity on a provocateur. Individuals who have a low threshold for anger arousal and are prone to hostile rumination behave more punitively than those who are slower to anger and disinclined to dwell on grievances and possible retaliations (Caprara, Coluzzi, Mazzotti, Renzi, & Zelli, 1985; Caprara, Renzi, Alcini, D'Imperio, & Travaglia, 1983; Caprara, Renzi, Amolini, D'Imperio, & Travaglia, 1984; Caprara et al, 1986).…”

It is More than Thought that Counts: the Role of Readiness for Aggression in the Relationship Between Ostracism and Displaced Aggression

“…This prediction was confirmed. The results of this study were consistent with reports relating aggression to emotional susceptibility, irritability, trait anger and impulsiveness (Caprara et al 1986 ; Godlaski and Giancola 2009 ).…”

Risky Driving in Adolescents and Young Adults with Childhood ADHD

“…Studies confirm good psychometric properties, reporting a test-retest coefficient of .83 and a split-half consistency of .90 in healthy men and women (Caprara et al, 1985) and even higher coefficients in clinical (Tartar, Blackson, Bringham, Moss, & Caprara, 1995) and other normal samples (Anderson, 1997). Validity for the Caprara Irritability Scale has been established by demonstrating that people with higher irritability scores administer higher shocks on laboratory aggression tasks (Caprara et al, 1986;Parrott & Zeichner, 2001) and rate themselves higher on measures of state hostility (Anderson, 1997).…”

Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency.

“…The predictive validity of these measures has been corroborated experimentally under simulated conditions in which participants can inflict shocks of varying intensity on a provocateur. Individuals who have a low threshold for anger arousal and are prone to hostile rumination behave more punitively than those who are slower to anger and disinclined to dwell on grievances and possible retaliations (Caprara, Coluzzi, Mazzotti, Renzi, & Zelli, 1985; Caprara, Renzi, Alcini, D'Imperio, & Travaglia, 1983; Caprara, Renzi, Amolini, D'Imperio, & Travaglia, 1984; Caprara et al, 1986).…”

It is More than Thought that Counts: the Role of Readiness for Aggression in the Relationship Between Ostracism and Displaced Aggression

“…This prediction was confirmed. The results of this study were consistent with reports relating aggression to emotional susceptibility, irritability, trait anger and impulsiveness (Caprara et al 1986 ; Godlaski and Giancola 2009 ).…”

Risky Driving in Adolescents and Young Adults with Childhood ADHD

“…Studies confirm good psychometric properties, reporting a test-retest coefficient of .83 and a split-half consistency of .90 in healthy men and women (Caprara et al, 1985) and even higher coefficients in clinical (Tartar, Blackson, Bringham, Moss, & Caprara, 1995) and other normal samples (Anderson, 1997). Validity for the Caprara Irritability Scale has been established by demonstrating that people with higher irritability scores administer higher shocks on laboratory aggression tasks (Caprara et al, 1986;Parrott & Zeichner, 2001) and rate themselves higher on measures of state hostility (Anderson, 1997).…”

Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency.

“…The predictive validity of these measures has been corroborated experimentally under simulated conditions in which participants can inflict shocks of varying intensity on a provocateur. Individuals who have a low threshold for anger arousal and are prone to hostile rumination behave more punitively than those who are slower to anger and disinclined to dwell on grievances and possible retaliations (Caprara, Coluzzi, Mazzotti, Renzi, & Zelli, 1985; Caprara, Renzi, Alcini, D'Imperio, & Travaglia, 1983; Caprara, Renzi, Amolini, D'Imperio, & Travaglia, 1984; Caprara et al, 1986).…”