Citation

Bushman BJ, Bonacci AM, Pedersen WC, Vasquez EA, Miller N. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 2005; 88(6): 969-983.

Affiliation

Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. bbushman@umich.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/0022-3514.88.6.969

PMID

15982116

Abstract

Ruminating about a provocation increases the likelihood of displaced aggression following a minor annoyance (trigger). In Study 1, provoked participants who ruminated for 25 min were more aggressive toward a fumbling confederate than were distracted participants. Provocation-induced negative affect was positively related to aggression but only among those who ruminated. Study 2 conceptually replicated Study 1 and also found that the more negatively people reacted to the trigger, the more likely the trigger was to increase displaced aggression. Study 3 replicated the findings of Studies 1 and 2 by using an 8-hr rumination period. All 3 studies suggest that ruminating about a provocation increases the likelihood that a minor triggering annoyance will increase displaced aggression.

Language: en