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Reappraising the situation and its impact on aggressive behavior
Christopher P Barlett1, Craig A Anderson
1Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. cpb6666@iastate.edu
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|October 7, 2011
Summary
Cognitive reappraisal strategies can reduce aggressive behavior and vengeance. This research explored how reappraisal influences aggression and developed an intervention to decrease vengeance.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Aggression Research
Background:
- Limited research has explored the link between cognitive reappraisal and aggressive behaviors.
- Existing studies primarily focus on the relationship between reappraisal and emotional regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive and attributional reappraisal and aggressive affect and behavior.
- To identify mediating and moderating factors in the reappraisal-aggression link.
- To develop and evaluate a reappraisal-based intervention for reducing vengeance.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: Experimental design using an essay writing task with varying feedback and mitigating information conditions.
- Study 2: A 16-week experimental intervention designed to train reappraisal skills and measure changes in vengeance.
Main Results:
- In Study 1, lack of mitigating information significantly increased aggression following provocation, with state vengeance mediating this effect.
- Study 2 demonstrated that participants with greater increases in reappraisal showed significant decreases in vengeance.
- Cognitive and attributional reappraisal were found to influence aggressive behavior.
Conclusions:
- Reappraisal strategies effectively reduce aggressive behavior and vengeance.
- Cognitive reappraisal is a viable target for interventions aimed at mitigating aggression.
- Findings advance aggression theory by elucidating the mechanisms through which reappraisal impacts aggressive outcomes.
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