GENDER DIFFERENCES IN AGGRESSION AS A FUNCTION OF PROVOCATION - A METAANALYSIS

In this article, we meta-analytically examine experimental studies to assess the moderating effect of provocation on gender differences in a ggression. Convergent evidence shows that, whereas unprovoked men are more aggressive than women, provocation markedly attenuates this gende r difference. Gender differences in appraisals of provocation intensit y and fear of danger from retaliation (but not negative affect) partia lly mediate the attenuating effect of provocation. However, they do no t entirely account for its manipulated effect. Type of provocation and other contextual variables also affect the magnitude of gender differ ences in aggression. The results support a social role analysis of gen der differences in aggression and counter A. H. Eagly and V. Steffen's (1986) meta-analytic inability to confirm an attenuating effect of pr ovocation on gender differences in aggression.