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Approach and avoidance towards aggressive stimuli and its relation to reactive and proactive aggression
Jill Lobbestael1, Janna Cousijn2, Suzanne Brugman1
1Faculty of Psychology and Neuropsychology, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Psychiatry Research
|April 26, 2016
Summary
Reactive aggression, unlike proactive aggression, is linked to a tendency to approach threatening stimuli. This suggests hyper-reactivity in the approach-related reward system for reactive aggression.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Aggression is broadly categorized into reactive (impulsive, anger-driven) and proactive (goal-directed, controlled) forms.
- Behavioral approach and avoidance tendencies are fundamental motivational systems influencing responses to stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between behavioral approach/avoidance tendencies and reactive versus proactive aggression.
- To differentiate the correlates of reactive and proactive aggression.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 118 patients and healthy controls completed self-report measures for reactive and proactive aggression.
- Participants performed an Approach Avoidance Task using joystick movements in response to various visual stimuli (attack-related, emotional, neutral).
- Analyses controlled for personality disorder pathology, gender, and age.
Main Results:
- Reactive aggression, but not proactive aggression, was significantly associated with a behavioral tendency to approach attack-related scenes and positive stimuli.
- This finding suggests a hyper-reactive approach-related reward system in individuals with reactive aggression.
Conclusions:
- Reactive and proactive aggression have distinct behavioral correlates and potential precursors.
- The findings contribute to understanding the neurobehavioral underpinnings of different aggression subtypes.
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