Hostile Attributional Bias, Negative Emotional Responding, and Aggression in Adults: Moderating Effects of Gender and Impulsivity

Abstract

The current study examined the main effects of hostile attributional bias (HAB) and negative emotional responding on a variety of aggressive behaviors in adults, including general aggression, physical aggression, relational aggression, and verbal aggression. Effects of both externalizing (anger) and internalizing (embarrassment/upset) negative emotions were considered. In addition, the moderating roles of gender and impulsivity on the effects of HAB and negative emotional responding were explored. Multilevel models were fitted to data from 2,749 adult twins aged 20–55 from the PennTwins cohort. HAB was positively associated with all four forms of aggression. There was also a significant interaction between impulsivity and HAB for general aggression. Specifically, the relationship between HAB and general aggression was only significant for individuals with average or above-average levels of impulsivity. Negative emotional responding was also found to predict all measures of aggression, although in different ways. Anger was positively associated with all forms of aggression, whereas embarrassment/upset predicted decreased levels of general, physical, and verbal aggression but increased levels of relational aggression. The associations between negative emotional responding and aggression were generally stronger for males than females. The current study provides evidence for the utility of HAB and negative emotional responding as predictors of adult aggression and further suggests that gender and impulsivity may moderate their links with aggression.

Is hostile attributional bias associated with negative urgency and impulsive behaviors? A social-cognitive conceptualization of impulsivity

“…According to the SIP model, HAB is seen as a key element in the etiology of one type of aggressive behavior, that of reactive/impulsive aggression (e.g., Matthews & Norris, 2002). Previous studies have conceived impulsiveness as a moderating factor in the relationship between SIP such as interpretation of others' intentions and aggressive behaviors (e.g., Chen, Coccaro, & Jacobson, 2012). However, the literature reviewed previously on social, contextual and cognitive factors associated with NU suggests that impulsivity can be seen as not only a moderating factor but also as the behavioral result of misleading SIP.…”

“…There is a need to replicate these results with vignettes that are ambiguous in order to determine whether NU is a significant predictor of HAB. Also, considering that externalizing (e.g., anger) as well as internalizing (e.g., sadness, embarrassment) negative emotions have been associated with HAB (Chen et al, 2012), it is important to control for the effect of these variables.…”

Moderating effects of childhood maltreatment on associations between social information processing and adult aggression

“…Matthews & Norris, 2002 ; Basquill et al . 2004 ; Miller & Lynam, 2006 ; Bailey & Ostrov, 2008 ; Chen et al . in press), with many studies focusing on an individual’s attributions of another’s intent in social situations.…”

An empirical test of social information processing theory and emotions in violent situations

“…Кроме того, было показано, что такие негативные эмоции, как гнев, имеют положительную корреляцию с агрессивным поведением и неспособностью решать задачи [28], а также связаны с предубежденностью о враждеб-ности другого и с агрессивным поведением [20,26].…”