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Verbal aggression and viewing the world as a mean place
Matthew M Martin1, Keith Weber, Timothy P Mottet
1Department of Communication Studies, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506, USA. MMARTIN@WVU.EDU
Psychological Reports
|April 4, 2003
Summary
College students who perceived the world as meaner also reported higher verbal aggressiveness. This suggests a link between outlook and aggressive communication styles in young adults.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Verbal aggressiveness is a personality trait linked to destructive communication.
- Perception of the world can influence an individual's behavior and attitudes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between perceptions of the world and verbal aggressiveness in college students.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 555 college students.
- Participants rated their perception of the world and levels of verbal aggressiveness.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was found between higher ratings of verbal aggressiveness and perceiving the world as a meaner place.
- Students with a more negative worldview reported greater verbal aggressiveness.
Conclusions:
- Perception of the world as a meaner place is associated with higher verbal aggressiveness in college students.
- Findings suggest that an individual's worldview may contribute to their communication behaviors.