Clarification of the instigation to action concept in the frustration-aggression hypothesis.

30 grade school children were placed in a pseudo-game situation where the E could thwart the S at any desired distance from the goal without the S realizing the arbitrary nature of the thwarting. The S is aware of distance to the goal at all times. A measure of an aggressive expression of frustration is made by determining the force S uses to push a plunger to silence a buzzer which sounds at the end of the trial. The findings seem to suggest that proximity to the goal at which frustration occurs will affect the resultant aggression. "However, the results are neither predictable nor explicable unless instigation to action is conceived of as a joint function of drive and habit strength." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social norms, arbitrariness of frustration, and status of the agent of frustration in the frustration-aggression hypothesis.

Some of the conditions under which frustration will produce aggression are further specified. Pastore's work with the role of arbitrariness in the frustration-aggression hypothesis is considered, in addition to two other variables, the effect of social norms, and the social position of the agent of frustration. Based on a sample of 60 college women, less aggression appears when (1) the instructions are designed to stress ideal behavior, (2) the situation is non-arbitrary, (3) the agent of frustration is an authority figure rather than a peer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An investigation of the frustration-aggression relation in children.

Describes an experiment with males in Grades 1-3 (N = 80) involving variations in level of frustration, type of model behavior, and model's outcomes. Neither initial level of frustration nor the female model's outcome had a significant effect on level of post-modeling aggression, although the model-behavior variable did have a significant impact. Ss rated by teachers as high in aggressive tendencies showed significantly greater increases in aggression in response to an aggressive model than Ss rated low in aggressive tendencies. (French summary) (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger, Frustration, and Aversiveness.

Comments on the literature review by Berkowitz and Harmon-Jones (see record 2004-15096-001) that evaluates leading theories of anger for which they offer their own theory of aggression as an integration. The current author suggests that their theory leads to a number of empirical questions, which he examines, and he suggests that individual differences should also be considered in formulating theories of aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

State–Trait Anger Theory and the utility of the Trait Anger Scale.

Eight studies present support for the state–trait anger theory. In Studies 1–3, high-anger participants reported (a) greater anger in many different provocations, in their most angering ongoing situations, and in daily life, (b) greater anger-related physiological arousal, (c) greater state anger and dysfunctional coping in response to a visualized provocation, and (d) greater use of suppression and outward negative expression of anger. Only heart rate in the visualized provocation did not support predictions. In Studies 4–5, high-anger individuals suffered more frequent and intense anger consequences. In Studies 6–8, trait anger had higher correlations with dimensions of anger than with other emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. Few gender differences were found across studies. Results were discussed in terms of state–trait theory, convergent and discriminant validity for the Trait Anger Scale, anger expression, gender, and the implications for counseling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger style, psychopathology, and regional brain activity.

Depression and anxiety often involve high levels of trait anger and disturbances in anger expression. Reported anger experience and outward anger expression have recently been associated with left-biased asymmetry of frontal cortical activity, assumed to reflect approach motivation. However, different styles of anger expression could presumably involve different brain mechanisms and/or interact with psychopathology to produce various patterns of brain asymmetry. The present study explored these issues by comparing resting regional electroencephalographic activity in participants high in trait anger who differed in anger expression style (high anger-in, high anger-out, both) and participants low in trait anger, with depression and anxiety systematically assessed. Trait anger, not anger-in or anger-out, predicted left-biased asymmetry at medial frontal EEG sites. The anger-in group reported higher levels of anxious apprehension than did the anger-out group. Furthermore, anxious apprehension moderated the relationship between trait anger, anger-in, and asymmetry in favor of the left hemisphere. Results suggest that motivational direction is not always the driving force behind the relationship of anger and left frontal asymmetry. Findings also support a distinction between anxious apprehension and anxious arousal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new look at the consequences of attitude certainty: The amplification hypothesis.

It is well established that increasing attitude certainty makes attitudes more resistant to attack and more predictive of behavior. This finding has been interpreted as indicating that attitude certainty crystallizes attitudes, making them more durable and impactful. The current research challenges this crystallization hypothesis and proposes an amplification hypothesis, which suggests that instead of invariably strengthening an attitude, attitude certainty amplifies the dominant effect of the attitude on thought, judgment, and behavior. In 3 experiments, the authors test these competing hypotheses by comparing the effects of attitude certainty manipulations on univalent versus ambivalent attitudes. Across experiments, it is demonstrated that increasing attitude certainty strengthens attitudes (e.g., increases their resistance to persuasion) when attitudes are univalent but weakens attitudes (e.g., decreases their resistance to persuasion) when attitudes are ambivalent. These results are consistent with the amplification hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alcohol expectancies, problem drinking, and adverse health consequences

This study evaluated a measure of positive and negative expected effects of alcohol and their subjective evaluation in the identification of college freshmen at high risk for problem drinking and associated morbidities. It was hypothesized that greater expectations of positive outcomes and fewer negative evaluations of negative outcomes would be associated with reports of heavier drinking and more alcohol-related health problems. College freshmen (n = 328) completed a standardized measure of expectations and subjective evaluations of positive and negative outcomes associated with drinking, and a questionnaire assessing drinking patterns and common alcohol-related health problems. Fifty-two percent of students were male and the mean age was 17.9 years (SD = 0.5). Students' expectations of positive outcomes and their subjective evaluations of both positive and negative outcomes from drinking were significantly correlated with drinking and alcohol-related health problems indices (p < 0.001). Gender, expectation of positive outcomes, and evaluation of negative outcomes explained 29% of the variance in drinking and 15% of the variance in alcohol-related health problems indices. Heavier-drinking students and those reporting more health problems expected more positive effects on their sociability and sexuality (p < 0.03) and were less concerned about cognitive and behavioral impairment as a result of drinking (p < 0.001). Students with more health problems were less concerned that drinking would lead to risk-taking or aggressive behavior (p < 0.003). Positive and negative outcome expectancies and their subjective evaluations accounted for a significant portion of the variability in drinking and alcohol-related health problems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Similarity, confusability, and the density hypothesis.

Results from several letter- and digit-identification studies have been interpreted (Appelman & Mayzner, 1982; Krumhansl, 1982) as providing support for the hypothesis that psychological similarity is influenced by the local density of items in the stimulus space. This conclusion is questioned on the grounds that density was not directly manipulated in the studies, thus alternative explanations based on other stimulus characteristics cannot be excluded. In the present article six experiments are reported in which stimulus density was manipulated. In three experiments using similarity ratings and two using discrimination confusions, no effect of stimulus density was found. However, the identification counterpart of one of the discrimination studies did provide evidence of an effect of density on response probabilities. It is concluded that stimulus density can affect identification performance through its influence on the choice process implicit in any identification task, but is not an important determinant of psychological similarity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis.

Examines whether the positive association between social support and well-being is attributable more to an overall beneficial effect of support (main- or direct-effect model) or to a process of support protecting persons from potentially adverse effects of stressful events (buffering model). The review of studies is organized according to (1) whether a measure assesses support structure (the existence of relationships) or function (the extent to which one's interpersonal relationships provide particular resources) and (2) the degree of specificity (vs globality) of the scale. Special attention is given to methodological characteristics that are requisite for a fair comparison of the models. It is concluded that there is evidence consistent with both models. Evidence for the buffering model is found when the social support measure assesses the perceived availability of interpersonal resources that are responsive to the needs elicited by stressful events. Evidence for a main effect model is found when the support measure assesses a person's degree of integration in a large social network. Both conceptualizations of social support are correct in some respects, but each represents a different process through which social support may affect well-being. Implications for theories of social support processes and for the design of preventive interventions are discussed. (4 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger arousal and personality characteristics.

Examined personality differences (California Psychological Inventory) between 150 undergraduates manifesting varying degrees of anger arousal as measured by the Anger Self-Report (ASR) and the Novaco Anger Inventory (AI). MANOVA revealed that high-anger-arousal Ss scored lower on socialization (ASR) self-control, tolerance, psychological-mindedness, and flexibility (AI); low-anger-arousal Ss scored lower on self-acceptance (AI) and higher on responsibility, socialization, and good impression (ASR). (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hostility and health: Current status of a psychosomatic hypothesis.

Discusses the influence of hostility on physical health. Evidence available from prospective studies suggests that hostile persons may be at increased risk for subsequent coronary heart disease and other life-threatening illnesses. Several plausible mechanisms possibly linking hostility and health have been articulated and subjected to initial evaluation. Hostile individuals display heightened physiological reactivity in some situations, report greater degrees of interpersonal conflict and less social support, and may have more unhealthy daily habits. Additional research is needed, and it must address a variety of past conceptual and methodological limitations. The most central of these concerns are the assessment of individual differences in hostility and the role of social contexts in the psychosomatic process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Monitoring the health consequences of welfare reform

Recent changes in welfare legislation place responsibility for support of the poor on states, dramatically decrease funding, create work requirements, and impose a number of other restrictions. Many predict adverse consequences of "welfare repeal"; however, the legislation does not provide for monitoring the health consequences of these changes. This article summarizes the provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, reviews initial criticism, and makes a series of suggestions for monitoring activities.     

Anger, impulsivity, and anger control in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

Examined the association of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with anger. 24 veterans of the Vietnam War with PTSD scored significantly higher on an Anger factor comprising multiple measures of anger than did comparison groups of 23 well-adjusted Vietnam combat veterans and 12 noncombat Vietnam-era veterans with psychiatric diagnoses. In contrast, the 3 groups did not differ significantly on orthogonal factors, one of which comprised cognitive impulsivity measures and the other of which reflected motor impulsivity. Changes in heart rate in response to provocation loaded positively on the Anger factor and negatively on the 2 Impulsivity factors. Concurrent depression and trait anxiety did not have an effect on level of anger in individuals with PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger and time perception in children.

The present study investigated age-related variations in judgments of the duration of angry facial expressions compared with neutral facial expressions. Children aged 3, 5, and 8 years were tested on a temporal bisection task using angry and neutral female faces. Results revealed that, in all age groups, children judged the duration of angry faces to be longer than that of neutral faces. Findings are discussed in the framework of internal clock models and the adaptive function of emotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger and cardiovascular risk in adolescents.

Examined the relationship between anger and elevations in cardiovascular risk among 213 13–18 yr old adolescents. Ss were assessed on an anger index and also on certain physical (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol) and psychological (e.g., anxiety, life dissatisfaction) variables associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The anger index was factor analyzed, producing a terminal solution of 2 factors: Frequent Anger Directed Outward and Anger-Producing Situations. Regression analyses showed that the factor scores were predictive of the physical and psychological measures of cardiovascular risk, and that the factor scores were differentially related to these indices. Findings are supportive of systematic study both of the multidimensional nature of anger and of the associations of the dimensions of anger with indices of cardiovascular risk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger, disgust, and presumption of harm as reactions to taboo-breaking behaviors.

Three experiments investigated the relationship between the presumption of harm in harmfree violations of creatural norms (taboos) and the moral emotions of anger and disgust. In Experiment 1, participants made a presumption of harm to others from taboo violations, even in conditions described as harmless and not involving other people; this presumption was predicted by anger and not disgust. Experiment 2 manipulated taboo violation and included a cognitive load task to clarify the post hoc nature of presumption of harm. Experiment 3 was similar but more accurately measured presumed harm. In Experiments 2 and 3, only without load was symbolic harm presumed, indicating its post hoc function to justify moral anger, which was not affected by load. In general, manipulations of harmfulness to others predicted moral anger better than moral disgust, whereas manipulations of taboo predicted disgust better. The presumption of harm was found on measures of symbolic rather than actual harm when a choice existed. These studies clarify understanding of the relationship between emotions and their justification when people consider victimless, offensive acts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Military youth and the deployment cycle: Emotional health consequences and recommendations for intervention.

The United States military force includes over 2.2 million volunteer service members. Three out of five service members who are deployed or are preparing for deployment have spouses and/or children. Stressors associated with the deployment cycle can lead to depression, anxiety, and behavior problems in children, as well as psychological distress in the military spouse. Further, the emotional and behavioral health of family members can affect the psychological functioning of the military service member during the deployment and reintegration periods. Despite widespread acknowledgment of the need for emotional and behavioral health services for youth from military families, many professionals in a position to serve them struggle with how to best respond and select appropriate interventions. The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirically based and theoretically informed review to guide service provision and the development of evidence based treatments for military youth in particular. This review includes an overview of stressors associated with the deployment cycle, emotional and behavioral health consequences of deployment on youth and their caretaking parent, and existing preventative and treatment services for youth from military families. It concludes with treatment recommendations for older children and adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral health symptoms associated with the deployment cycle. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger, aggression, and violence in love triangles

This paper presents a longitudinal examination of the effect of employment transitions on the psychological distress of 398 single and 454 married mothers. Our analyses reveal that the effects of employment transitions differ for single and married mothers. Among women who left their jobs during the course of this study, we find a significant increase in distress among single mothers but no change in distress among married mothers. Transitions out of employment among single mothers produce increases in financial strain that result in declines in levels of self-esteem and mastery which, in turn, manifest themselves in higher levels of psychological distress. When we examine the effects of transitions into paid work, there are surprisingly few effects on mothers' levels of distress. For single mothers, taking a job for pay offers no significant reduction in their feelings of distress. Among married mothers, transitions into employment are associated with declines in distress, but these declines are offset by the distressful consequences of increases in caregiving strain. Thus, the effects of employment transitions on distress are a function of the differential impact of changes in stressors and psychosocial resources among single and married mothers as well as variations in the economic context and meanings of employment transitions. Movements into or out of employment do not offer the same opportunities and benefits or engender the same costs for single and married mothers. Our results also highlight the different policy implications that emerge from a consideration of longitudinal as opposed to cross-sectional analyses of these issues.