Responding to Anger in Aggressive and Nonaggressive Boys: a Research Note

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Responding to adults'' behaviour was examined in 40 first- through third-grade boys. Boys were divided into aggressive, nonaggressive and control groups. In the experimental conditions, boys were exposed to laboratory simulations of prosocial and angry interactions between adults. Following each simulation, boys were interviewed. Aggressive boys reported greater aggressiveness towards a hypothetical peer following exposure to anger and, across several indices, reported being more highly aroused. Based on reports of arousal, a high responding category of reacting to anger was created. High responders were more likely than other boys to have been from the aggressive group and reported more aggression towards a hypothetical peer.