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Artificial a theoretical model of triggered displaced aggression.
Norman Miller1, William C Pedersen, Mitchell Earleywine
1Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089, USA. nmiller@rcf.usc.edu
Summary
Aggressive responses often exceed tit-for-tat rules due to triggered displaced aggression. This study explores how situational, personal, and target factors explain escalated retaliation beyond initial provocations.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Aggression Research
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The tit-for-tat rule explains much interpersonal behavior, but aggressive responses to mild provocations often exceed this principle.
- Triggered displaced aggression offers an explanation for these exceptions, where initial provocations lead to disproportionate retaliation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a theoretical framework explaining escalated retaliation resulting from triggered displaced aggression.
- To identify social and personality factors that moderate and mediate triggered displaced aggression.
Main Methods:
- Building upon the Cognitive Neoassociationistic model of aggression.
- Analyzing factors including the initial provocation, situational aspects, actor's rumination, and target's attributes.
Main Results:
- Identified key factors: Time 1 provocation and situation, initial provocations and personality leading to rumination, and target characteristics.
- These factors temporally extend provocation effects, allowing interaction with delayed, minor triggering events, leading to escalated retaliation.
Conclusions:
- Triggered displaced aggression, moderated by situational, personal, and target factors, explains disproportionate aggressive responses.
- The framework provides insight into the complex dynamics of escalated retaliation in social interactions.