HOT TEMPERATURES, HOSTILE AFFECT, HOSTILE COGNITION, AND AROUSAL - TESTS OF A GENERAL-MODEL OF AFFECTIVE AGGRESSION

A general model of affective aggression was used to generate predictio ns concerning hot temperatures. Experiment 1 examined hot temperature effects on hostile affect, hostile cognition, perceived arousal, and p hysiological arousal in the context of a study of video games. Experim ent 2 examined hot temperature effects on hostile affect, perceived an d physiological arousal, and general positive and negative affect in t he context of brief aerobic exercise. Consistent results were obtained . Hot temperatures produced increases in hostile affect, hostile cogni tion, and physiological arousal. Hot temperatures also produced decrea ses is perceived arousal and general positive affect. These results su ggest that hot temperatures may increase aggressive tendencies via any of three separate routes. Hostile affect, hostile cognitions, and exc itation transfer processes may all increase the likelihood of biased a ppraisals of ambiguous social events, biased in a hostile direction.