Effects of frustration, attack, and prior aggressive training on overt aggression and vascular processes.

Abstract

Reinforced 64 male undergraduates for aggressive or nonaggressive verbalizations prior to being subjected to test failure and/or E insult. Changes in aggressive (electric shocks) and nonaggressive (light signals) behavior were noted along with changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results indicate that: (a) insult led to a greater increase in the amount and intensity of aggression than did no insult; (b) aggressive training led to a greater increase in the strength of aggression than did nonaggressive training; (c) elevations in diastolic blood pressure were greatest following pure insult (unconfounded by frustration); (d) changes in diastolic pressure were correlated with changes in amount of aggression; and (e) frustration failed to produce any systematic increase in either behavioral aggression or vascular activity. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)