Effects of age and related factors on the pain-aggression reaction.

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Abstract
Aggression was induced between pairs of rats by means of foot shock. The pain-aggression reaction was found to be a function of age and several age-related factors reduced androgen levels produced by castration reduced aggressiveness; reduction of social interaction by isolation reduced aggression; with socially isolated Ss, a prolonged history of pain-induced aggression resulted in extreme aggressiveness. Thus, aggressive contact may be the critical factor in a history of normal social interaction leading to increased aggressiveness. That socially isolated Ss did display aggression, however, indicates that pain-elicited aggression is principally an unlearned reaction.

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