EFFECTS OF PROVOCATION ON EMOTIONS AND AGGRESSION IN MALES

The effects of provocation of emotions and human physical aggression w ere examined using a competitive reaction time paradigm. Fifty-four ma les participated in the competitive task with a fictitious opponent, P articipants were assigned to two conditions, low-constant provocation and increasing provocation. Aggression was defined as the intensity of electric shocks participants selected for the opponent to receive, Ne gative emotions (threat, harm) and positive emotions (benefit, challen ge) a ere assessed at four times during the experimental task. The res ults revealed that both aggressive responding and harm emotions differ ed as a function of opponent's level of provocation. There was little compelling evidence that emotions served as an important intervening v ariable in the relationship between provocation and aggression. (C) 19 97 Wiley-Liss, Inc.