Threatened egotism, narcissism, self-esteem, and
directed and displaced aggression: Does self-love or self-hate lead to
violence?
Brad Bushman (Iowa State University, Ames, IA)
Roy F. Baumeister (Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH)
It has been widely asserted that low self-esteem causes violence, but
laboratory evidence is lacking, and some contrary observations have characterized
aggressors as having favorable self-opinions. In two studies, we
measured both simple self-esteem and narcissism and then gave individual
subjects an opportunity to aggress against someone who had insulted them
or praised them, or against an innocent third person. Self-esteem proved
irrelevant to aggression. The combination of narcissism and insult
led to exceptionally high levels of aggression toward the source of the
insult. Neither form of self-regard affected displaced aggression,
which was low in general. These findings contradict the popular view
that low self-esteem causes aggression and point instead toward threatened
egotism as an important cause.
Moderating effect of trivial triggering provocation
on displaced aggression
William C. Pedersen and Norman Miller (University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA)
Examined the impact of a trivial triggering provocation by the target
of displaced aggression after independent prior provocation. Manipulation
checks confirmed that antecedent provocation (p<.001) and trivial triggering
provocation by itself (p<.001) elicited anger. The interaction
between the two manipulations confirmed theoretical expectation (p<.005).
Without an independent antecedent provocation, the triggering action had
no impact on aggression toward its source. However, following an
antecedent provocation, it dramatically increased displaced aggression
beyond that elicited by provocation alone.
Displaced aggression: a meta-analytic review
Norman Miller (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA)
A. Marcus-Newhall (Scripps College, Los Angeles, CA)
William Pedersen (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA)
Content analysis shows that social psychology textbooks (N=123) view
displaced aggression as conceptually unsubstantiated and obsolete.
Meta-analysis, however, reveals its robustness (Mean effect size = +.55).
Additionally, moderator analyses showed that: 1) negative interaction between
the participant and target increases it; 2) greater perceived similarity
between the participant and target directionally decreases it (p<.10);
3) the intensity of initial provocation is inversely related to it; and
4) greater similarity between provocateur and target has no effect. (back
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