Succumbing to the Call of Violence – Sex-Linked Development of Appetitive Aggression in Relation to Familial and Organized Violence

Abstract

Appetitive aggression is the attraction to violent behavior, which can peak in the experience of a combat high. In various war and conflict scenarios, members of armed groups have reported developing a desire to hunt and even kill humans. More recently, we reported that the phenomenon has also been observed in female ex-combatants with varying participation in warfare. Despite recent investigations on risk factors for appetitive aggression, sex-specific pathways in the development of appetitive aggression have not yet been delineated. This study investigated moderation effects of sex on previously identified risk factors for appetitive aggression by means of regression analyses in a sample of individuals with varying degrees of warfare participation (overall sample, n = 602). First examining a sample characterized by backgrounds heterogeneous in both sociodemographic data and war experiences, the analysis was then replicated in a subsample of fighters active during the civil war (combatant sample, n = 109). In both samples, regression analyses revealed significant moderation effects of sex. Childhood maltreatment and traumatic events had positive associations on the development of appetitive aggression for males but a negative (childhood maltreatment) or no (traumatic events) association for females. Perpetrated events were more strongly correlated with appetitive aggression for females than for males. This pattern was pronounced for the combatant sample. These results are in favor of sex-linked pathways. In both sexes, appetitive aggression may have evolved as a biologically prepared response to cruel environments but might develop along different trajectories. The current study highlights the need for addressing appetitive aggression in order to support peace-building processes and emphasizes sex specific starting-points.

A combination of combat experience, early abduction, and severe traumatization fuels appetitive aggression and violence among abductees of rebel war in Northern Uganda

“…Thus, our results partially replicate previous findings from male cohorts of active soldiers and ex-combatants (MacManus et al, 2013;Nandi et al, 2015). Even though Augsburger et al (2017) could not find any sex differences among former combatants in the context of committed violence, being a male did play a significant role in our regression model for perpetrated violent acts. This may be due to the fact that men are commonly to be found on the frontlines of combat in military groups (Zack-Williams, 2001), which provides more opportunities for violence, whereas women usually engage in parallel to combat also in noncombat tasks such as domestic work, child care, and they are also not deployed to combat during pregnancy (Baines, 2014).…”

“…Even though studies on sex differences in relation to appetitive aggression have been conducted, findings are not yet conclusive. While some previous investigations indicated lower appetitive aggression among females than males (Weierstall, Schaal, Schalinski, Dusingizemungu, & Elbert, 2011), other studies showed that women can perceive violent acts as equally appealing as men (Augsburger et al, 2017; Meyer‐Parlapanis et al, 2016; Weierstall, Castellanos, Neuner, & Elbert, 2013). Augsburger et al (2017) found a positive correlation between childhood maltreatment, traumatic load, and appetitive aggression in men.…”

“…While some previous investigations indicated lower appetitive aggression among females than males (Weierstall, Schaal, Schalinski, Dusingizemungu, & Elbert, 2011), other studies showed that women can perceive violent acts as equally appealing as men (Augsburger et al, 2017; Meyer‐Parlapanis et al, 2016; Weierstall, Castellanos, Neuner, & Elbert, 2013). Augsburger et al (2017) found a positive correlation between childhood maltreatment, traumatic load, and appetitive aggression in men. They also found, among women, childhood maltreatment was negatively related to appetitive aggression while traumatic load was not significantly linked to appetitive aggression and likewise, the link between perpetrated events and appetitive aggression was more pronounced among female participants in the study.…”

Associations between trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder, and aggression perpetrated by women. A meta‐analysis

“…Previous research indicates that PTSD symptoms are associated with reactive rather than instrumental aggression (Rasche et al, ). Even more important, a study with former members of armed groups points to negative associations between traumatic events and goal‐oriented aggression in women but an opposite pattern for men (Augsburger, Meyer‐Parlapanis, et al, ). And finally, reactive aggression was related to all clusters of PTSD in female war veterans, but only associated with hyperarousal in males, whereas instrumental aggression revealed the opposite picture (Miles et al, ).…”

“…Individuals exposed to traumatic stress frequently report behavioral regulation difficulties, leading to outbursts of anger and an increased risk for aggressive behavior. These dynamics can perpetuate ongoing cycles of violence (e.g., Augsburger, Meyer‐Parlapanis, et al, ; Hecker, Fetz, Ainamani, & Elbert, ). Evidence for aggression following traumatic stress is provided by a large number of studies that focused on specific groups such as military personnel or war veterans.…”