Physical aggression as a function of perceived fighting ability and provocation: an experimental investigation

Abstract

In three studies, Resource Holding Power (RHP) and provocation were manipulated in scenarios involving a young person in a bar with friends. In Study 1, teenage men reported lower likelihood of responding with physical aggression when insulted as levels of three RHP cues (size, allies and reputation) increased, effects that were accentuated by combinations of high-RHP cues; in the second part of this study, they consistently rated an insult to their girlfriend as the most provoking from a range of possible provocations, chosen on theoretical and empirical grounds. Study 2 replicated the results of the first part of Study 1 in samples of men and women in their twenties, although the effects were weaker at low levels of RHP. Study 3 combined a high- or low-provoking event, with low, medium or high RHP, and a wider range of response choices. As expected, direct aggression increased as provocation increased and RHP decreased. Delayed aggressive responses, including revenge fantasies, were highest in response to high provocation and high RHP. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical models of aggressive motivation.

Physical aggression as a function of perceived fighting ability among male and female prisoners

“…Consistent with the prediction that men would be generally more likely than women to report that they would respond to an insult with physical aggression, the between-subjects factor (''sex'') showed a significant main effect (F(1,996) 5 10.16; Po.001), with men showing higher scores than women (M 5 2.82 vs. 2.57 per item; d 5 .21), a difference comparable with that found for a student sample [Archer and Benson, 2007].…”

“…Both involved insults in a place where there are other prisoners, but the first was directed at the person and the second to their significant others. In the previous study [Archer and Benson, 2007], insults to a partner were consistently rated as more provoking than insults to the self. It is therefore expected that the second scenario will overall be more provoking than the first one.…”

“…Both men and women prisoners were sampled, so that the previous finding [Archer and Benson, 2007] that both sexes responded to RHP cues in essentially the same way, could be assessed. In addition, the finding that men were more likely than women to state that they would escalate to physical aggression, over all RHP levels, could be assessed.…”

“…Following an ethnographic study of young men in the context of a ''night out'' in bars and clubs [Benson and Archer, 2002], Archer and Benson [2007] carried out three studies in which RHP was manipulated in scenarios involving a young person in a bar with friends. Teenage men, around 18 years of age, reported less likelihood of responding with physical aggression when insulted, as three levels of three RHP cues (size, allies, and reputation) increased, effects that were accentuated by combinations of high RHP cues.…”

Men’s Physical Strength Moderates Conceptualizations of Prospective Foes in Two Disparate Societies

“…Likewise, observers perceive a man's height as contributing to his fighting ability (Sell et al 2009a) and, correspondingly, take relative size into consideration when deciding whether to escalate hypothetical confrontations (Archer and Benson 2008; but see also Archer 2007). Consistent with their being less vulnerable to assault, taller men are less sensitive to cues of dominance than are shorter men (Watkins et al 2010).…”