Sex and social representations of aggression: A communal-agentic analysis

Abstract

Previous research [Campbell and Muncer: Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior 17: 489–512, 1987; Campbell et al.: Aggressive Behavior 18: 95–108, 1992] suggests that men and women hold different social representations or implicit theories of their own aggression. Men view it is an instrumental act (a means of obtaining and exercising power to gain social rewards), while women view it an expressive act (a cathartic discharge of anger). In the present study, communal/agentic personality styles and gender identity are examined as possible mediators of the relation between sex and Expaag–a psychometric measure of adherence to an expressive representation of aggression. In addition a measure of self‐reported aggression is included. The highest correlation appeared between sex and Expaag. Gender identity and interpersonal style made no significant improvement in explained variance in a multiple regression analysis after sex had been entered. An instrumental social representation of aggression was significantly and positively correlated with number of reported aggressive acts. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Cost of Commuting: A Review of Determinants, Outcomes, and Theory of Commuting-Related Stress

“…To that end, the likelihood to categorize workplace stress as a major hassle to daily life was more prevalent in men (Almeida, Wethington, & Kessler, 2003). Furthermore, Campbell, Muncer, and Gorman (1993) found that men are more accepting of aggressive tendencies as suitable coping behavior. While their study was not specifically in the context of work, their findings could explain why men display more aggressive tendencies, in response to commuting stress at work (Hennessy, 2008).…”

Adolescents' Predictions of Aggressive Behavioral Patterns in Different Settings

“…It was predicted that when the aggressor was a male, the participants would predict that he would use direct aggression (physical and verbal) more than when the aggressor was a female; the results confirmed this. Since previous research supports the view that indirect aggression is more typical of females [1,26,[28][29][30][31][32][33][35][36][37][38][39], and more experience with a certain behavior will enhance stereotypical beliefs between sex differences in aggressive behavior [43], it was predicted that females would be predicted to use indirect aggression more often than males, and as expected, results confirm this hypothesis; when the aggressor was a female, the adolescents predicted that the aggressor would use indirect aggression more than when the aggressor was a male.…”

Affective Politics, Debility and Hearing Voices: Towards a Feminist Politics of Ordinary Suffering

“…As a result, men are more likely than women to describe their involvement in aggression in justificatory terms, viewing it as a form of legitimate social control over others' misbehavior e.g., "aggression is necessary to get through to some people" (90)(91)(92). In contrast, women are more likely to describe their involvement in aggression in exculpatory terms employing an expressive representation which denies their full responsibility for their actions, e.g., a regretted loss of self-control caused by high levels of stress (90)(91)(92).…”

“…In contrast, women are more likely to describe their involvement in aggression in exculpatory terms employing an expressive representation which denies their full responsibility for their actions, e.g., a regretted loss of self-control caused by high levels of stress (90)(91)(92). For women, anger and aggression come to represent a loss of self-control, for which they are made to feel ashamed.…”