Predicting our own aggression: Person, subculture or situation?

Abstract

Using a self-report technique, teenaged subjects (stratified by sex and social class) were asked to report their predicted behaviour over 24 conflict scenarios involving 12 male and 12 female targets. In terms of degree of aggression predicted, there was a strong effect of situation. Towards male targets, lower middle-class subjects were more aggressive than upper middle-class subjects and males were more aggressive than females. With respect to female targets, the social class difference again appeared but there was no simple sex difference. The interaction of sex and social class indicated that lower middle-class females were most aggressive toward female targets. Cross-situational consistency was low even controlling for class and sex, indicating little support for a generalized 'aggressive personality'. The most powerful single effect was the situation being judged. Feature analysis of situations tending to produce fight vs. flight responses suggested that flight is associated with perceived high risk encounters whereas fighting is the modal response in 'fair fight' situations where the risk of injury is lower. It is suggested that impression management concerns operate only in these low risk situations.

Park User Perceptions of Resource and Use Impacts Under Varied Situations in Three National Parks

“…Violence or aggression among prison inmates is also predicted on the basis of situation variables. Steinke (1991) and Campbell et al (1985) found that the most powerful predictor of aggression in conflict scenarios was the situation being judged and not an aggressive personality. Still other examples abound in the literature.…”

Visitor response to outdoor recreation conflict: A conceptual approach

“…Knowledge of the interaction between the individual and environment is essential to an adequate description and understanding of behavior (Magnuson, 1981). Moreover, increased predictive power is found in behavior models that include environmental variables (Campbell, Bibel & Mincer, 1985). "Many stress researchers have overlooked the properties of physical situations most likely to place greater adaptive demands on human coping responses" (Evans & Cohen, 1987, p. 572).…”

Social goals and conflict strategies of individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities who present problems of aggression

“…(1989) showed that boys expect less parental disapproval and less guilt to follow aggression. Campbell et al . (1985) found gender differences in the social representations held regarding aggression.…”