EXAMINING AN AFFECTIVE AGGRESSION FRAMEWORK WEAPON AND TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON AGGRESSIVE THOUGHTS, AFFECT, AND ATTITUDES

A general framework for studying affective aggression, integrating man y insights from previous models (e.g., those of Baron, Berkowitz, Geen , and Zillmann), is presented. New research examining effects of extre me temperatures and photos of guns on arousal, cognition, and affect i s reported. Hostile cognition was assessed using an automatic priming task (i.e., Stroop interference). Hostile affect was assessed with the State Hostility Scale. Positive and negative affect, hostile attitude s, perceived comfort, and perceived arousal were also assessed. As exp ected, hot and cold temperatures increased state hostility and hostile attitudes, and viewing guns did not. As expected, viewing guns primed hostile cognitions and extreme temperatures did not. Theoretical impl ications of these results and societal implications of the general fra mework are discussed.