Instigative aggression as a function of past experience and target characteristics.

Abstract

Third-party-instigated aggression was examined by manipulating the provocativeness of the same or a new target in Part 2 of a task. Effects of previous experience with aggression (i.e., interacting with partners supportive of or disapproving of aggression in Part 1) were also examined. Although the provocativeness of the target accounted for the most variance in the amount of aggression expressed, when the target in Part 2 was new, prior experience influenced aggression. Results are discussed in terms of and interactional model of behavior. The clearer the current situational demands (i.e., known, predictable target) were, the less the influence of past aggressive experience on continued aggression; the more ambiguous the current situation (i.e., new, unpredictable target) was, the more the influence of past aggressive experience on continued aggression.

Social and personal determinants of workplace aggression: Evidence for the impact of perceived injustice and the Type A Behavior Pattern

“…This latter finding suggests that high levels of injustice within an organization may trigger a mounting spiral of aggression and counter-aggression that results in a situation where few, if any, organization members escape unscathed. Rather, as is often the case, aggression elicits aggression, so that the number of persons involved and the range of tactics employed increases over time [White and Gruber, 1982]. The existence of such a pattern is consistent with the findings of a growing body of evidence suggesting that perceptions of having been treated unfairly play an important role in the occurrence of disruptive, antisocial behaviors in workplaces [e.g., Giacalone and Greenberg, 1997;Greenberg, 1990Greenberg, , 1993bGreenberg and Alge,1998;Williams, 1994].…”

Alcohol and Aggression: Perspectives on Controlled and Uncontrolled Social Information Processing

“…Regarding situational factors, the effect of provocation or frustration offers an important co‐etiological variable of intoxicated aggression (Ito et al., 1994). Moreover, the contribution of third party (Borden & Taylor, 1973; Luckenbill, 1977; Pernanen, 1991; Taylor & Gammon, 1976; Tedeschi & Felson, 1994; White & Gruber, 1982) and of the victim has to be underlined. In many cases indeed, the intoxication of the victim is a causal or an aggravating factor of violent interactions (Abbey, McAuslan, & Ross, 1998; Goldstein, 1985, Virkkunen, 1974).…”