Effects of noise and perceived control on ongoing and subsequent aggressive behavior

Two experiments examined the effects of high-intensity (95 dB [A]) noise on ongoing and postnoise aggressive behavior. In Experiment 1, subjects were angered or treated in a neutral manner and given an opportunity to aggress against another subject while being exposed to high-intensity (95 dB) or low-intensity (55 dB) noise. Results indicated that high-intensity noise facilitated aggression for previously angered individuals. Experiment 2 examined postnoise aggression in which subjects completed a math task under high-intensity noise with or without perceived control over the noise. In comparison to a no-noise control, it was found that angered subjects with no control revealed an increase in aggression, whereas perceived-control subjects were no different from no-noise subjects. Results are discussed in terms of the recent Glass and Singer work on noise and task performance and the effects of perceived control on mediating the effects of stressful conditions.