Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · 1967 · 622 citations · 7 references
Social SciencesPsychologySocial PsychologyExperimental PsychologyIntergroup RelationsSocial CognitionAggressionAggressive BehaviorDefensive BehaviorShock ResponseSocial ThreatViolenceAggression Among PeersAggression SignalsAggressive ConductAggressive InteractionsAggressive SignalsControl Group DesignMatched Control Group
The study tested whether aggression‑associated stimuli provoke aggressive responses in individuals primed for aggression. One hundred male university students received 1 or 7 shocks from a peer and then could deliver shocks to that peer, with weapons or racquets placed near the shock key to manipulate the presence of aggression cues. Strongly aroused participants who had received 7 shocks delivered the most shocks when weapons were present, indicating that guns strongly elicited aggressive responses.
An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that stimuli commonly associated with aggression can elicit aggressive responses from people ready to act aggressively. 100 male university students received either 1 or 7 shocks, supposedly from a peer, and were then given an opportunity to shock this person. In some cases a rifle and revolver were on the table near the shock key. These weapons were said to belong, or not to belong, to the available target person. In other instances there was nothing on the table near the shock key, while for a control group 2 badminton racquets were on the table near the key. The greatest number of shocks was given by the strongly aroused Ss (who had received 7 shocks) when they were in the presence of the weapons. The guns had evidently elicited strong aggressive responses from the aroused men.
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